Terrifying near-miss at Atlanta airport as Delta flight almost REAR ENDS another plane on runway

A flight landing at the busiest airport in the United States narrowly missed another plane on the runway Tuesday – just one day after a rifle-wielding man was arrested for allegedly threatening to open fire in one of the terminals.

One man onboard a flight landing at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia from Los Angeles, California took to X to share his experience.

He claimed that as soon as Delta Airlines Flight 515 ‘touched down, we shot straight back up into the sky.

‘The pilot got on the intercom minutes later to say we were too close to another plane near us,’ Nick Valencia wrote. ‘People freaked out.’

In a statement to the Daily Mail, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed Flight 515 ‘initiated a go-around at Hartsfield-Jackson, Atlanta International Airport, due to the previous arrival, which was slow to exit the runway’ at around 2.45pm.

Fortunately, the Delta flight was able to land safely moments later.

The frightening incident was just the latest crisis that was averted at the airport, where police arrested a man on Monday for allegedly threatening to shoot up the transportation hub.

Billy Joe Cagle, a 49-year-old from Cartersville in the Atlanta metropolitan area, was taken into custody after police say he FaceTimed family members threatening to open fire at the airport.

A Delta flight arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta narrowly missed another plane on the runway Tuesday afternoon (file photo)

The frightening incident was just the latest crisis that was averted at the airport (pictured), where police arrested a man on Monday for allegedly threatening to shoot up the transportation hub

Family members then called Cartersville police to tell them what happened and provide a picture of Cagle. The local department then informed Atlanta police, who responded to the threat.

In their call, the family members mentioned that Cagle had been livestreaming on social media before he arrived at the airport.

When police then arrived at the scene, they found Cagle’s pickup truck blocking traffic. Inside, they discovered an AR-15 rifle and 27 rounds of ammunition.

Officers also discovered that Cagle had initially entered the terminal unarmed, and Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said he now believes the suspect was scoping it out.

It was when Cagle was then on his way back to his pickup truck to collect his weapon that officers arrested him, with Schierbaum saying Cagle was ‘likely to use that weapon in the crowded terminal he had just seen.’

Police ultimately found Cagle in the airport around 9.54am, less than 15 minutes after the initial call was placed, and he was taken into custody.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the close call ‘could have been tragic but was averted,’ adding that ’27 or more lives could have been lost today.’

He also said officials believe Cagle was experiencing a mental health crisis.

Billy Joe Cagle, a 49-year-old from Cartersville in the Atlanta metropolitan area, was arrested Monday at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

Bodycame footage shows officers arresting Cagle after his family members called police to say he had threatened to shoot up Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

The Chevrolet flat-bed pickup truck and recovered AR-15 rifle that police recovered from the scene

Cartersville police noted that Cagle had a criminal history. Georgia Department of Corrections records indicate that he was convicted of marijuana possession more than two decades ago.

According to Schierbaum, Cagle was charged with making terroristic threats, criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a felon.