NetJets Embraer departs without clearance at LaGuardia, forcing Delta go-around

AVweb reports that the FAA is investigating an incident at New York's LaGuardia Airport in which a NetJets Embraer Phenom 300 business jet reportedly departed without takeoff clearance as an Endeavor Air Bombardier CRJ900, operating as Delta Connection Flight 5415, approached an intersecting runway.

The encounter occurred on October 7 shortly before 4 p.m., according to AVweb. Air traffic control recordings captured a disagreement between the business jet pilot and a controller over whether the aircraft had received clearance to depart. The circumstances surrounding the disputed clearance remain under investigation.

According to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24, the aircraft came within approximately 1,000 feet of each other. Delta said in a statement that the regional flight crew initiated a go-around to ensure safe spacing with the departing aircraft on the nearby runway. The regional flight subsequently landed safely.

Investigation underway

The FAA is investigating the encounter to determine what occurred during the departure. AVweb notes that the incident follows a fatal runway collision at LaGuardia in March, when an Air Canada Express CRJ900 struck an airport firefighting vehicle that had been cleared to cross the runway. Both pilots were killed, and dozens were injured. The NTSB's investigation into that accident remains ongoing.

The reporting does not specify what operational changes, if any, will follow from the FAA's investigation. It is unclear whether the disputed clearance will result in procedural adjustments at LaGuardia or what findings the investigation will ultimately yield.

For charter operators and NetJets cardholders, the investigation does not yet address whether the incident will affect operations or scheduling at LaGuardia, one of the busiest business aviation hubs in the United States. Neither the FAA nor NetJets has commented on whether the departure without clearance will prompt changes to how clearance is confirmed at the airport.

AVweb reported the incident on Tuesday, October 14, based on an ABC7 report and flight-tracking analysis. The FAA has not yet disclosed a timeline for completing its investigation or whether preliminary findings will be made public.