Boeing 737-9 and Boeing CO 777-FS2 incident near Newark, New Jersey, March 18, 2026
On March 18, 2026, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737-9 (N738AL) and Boeing CO 777-FS2 (N853FD), were involved in the same incident near Newark, New Jersey (Newark Liberty Intl airport). No one was hurt; 183 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this incident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2026 · cases in 2026
- Place
- Newark, New Jersey · Newark Liberty Intl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 183 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737-9, built 2025 · all 737-9s on the register
- Registration
- N738AL · registry record · serial 68519
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing CO 777-FS2, built 2009
- Registration
- N853FD · registry record · serial 37724
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The factual record for the Boeing 737-9 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,078.9 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 15, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 192,400 lb
- Seats: 188
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: Alaska Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: PDX Portland OR at 7:49 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 260° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from KEWR, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KEWR 172351Z 26016G22KT 10SM FEW055 BKN070 BKN250 02/M12 A3003 RMK AO2 PK WND 26026/2304 SLP170 VIRGA T00221117 10061 20022 53038 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 175 |
The factual record for the Boeing CO 777-FS2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation during approach (IFR missed approach) defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 13
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: Federal Express CORP
The flight
- Departed from: MEM Memphis TN at 10:07 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N738AL on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Boeing 737 2,894 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Boeing 6,676 aircraft on the register
- N853FD on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Newark Liberty International · nearest airport
- Portland International · departed from
- Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in New Jersey 1,187 since 1982 · 134 in the last ten years
- New Jersey 3,018 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/OPS26LA027.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.