In a shocking incident that could have ended in disaster, two planes narrowly avoided a collision on a runway in Mexico City, raising serious concerns about air traffic control protocols.
At a Glance
- Aeromexico Flight 1631 and Delta Flight 590 nearly collided at Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport on July 21, 2025.
- The Aeromexico plane landed just 200 feet above the Delta jet, which was accelerating for takeoff on the same runway.
- The incident highlights ongoing concerns about air traffic control safety at one of Latin America’s busiest airports.
- Mexican aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
Near Disaster on the Runway
On July 21, 2025, Aeromexico Flight 1631, an Embraer E190, was cleared to land on runway 5R at Benito Juarez International Airport. Simultaneously, Delta Flight 590, a Boeing 737-800, was cleared for takeoff on the same runway. The Aeromexico aircraft landed just 200 feet above the Delta jet, which was accelerating at 60 mph. The Delta crew, upon visual contact with the Aeromexico plane, aborted takeoff and returned safely to the gate.
The incident has raised urgent questions about the operational protocols at Mexico City’s airport, which handles over 50 million passengers annually. With only two parallel runways often used simultaneously for arrivals and departures, the airport is notorious for congestion and operational complexity.
Watch: Delta and Aeromexico jets nearly collide at Mexico City airport
Aviation Authority Under Scrutiny
The Mexican Aviation Authority (AFAC) is under intense scrutiny following this near-miss incident. This comes amid heightened global concern over aviation safety, with several high-profile crashes and near-misses worldwide in 2024 and 2025. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had previously downgraded Mexico’s aviation safety rating in 2021 due to oversight concerns, though it was restored in 2023.
Both Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines have issued statements reaffirming their commitment to safety and cooperation with authorities. The investigation is focusing on possible communication failures in the control tower, as preliminary analysis suggests that both flights may have been cleared for conflicting operations due to a lapse in air traffic control procedures.
Systemic Issues and Human Error
Near-misses and runway incursions are not new to Benito Juarez International Airport. A similar incident occurred in 2022 when two Volaris planes nearly collided due to an air traffic control error. Globally, runway incursions remain a leading cause of aviation incidents, often attributed to miscommunication or procedural lapses.
Aviation safety analysts point out that such incidents are frequently the result of “human factors” and procedural breakdowns, especially in high-traffic, high-stress environments. The current investigation will likely delve deeper into these issues, potentially prompting systemic reforms and enhanced safety protocols at Mexican airports.
