An Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 crossed an active runway without clearance at Boston Logan International Airport after landing from Abu Dhabi on 15 October, prompting air traffic control to order a Republic Airways aircraft to go around. The Etihad crew had correctly read back instructions to taxi via R and N and hold short of runway 4L, but the aircraft continued across runway 4L/22R. No collision or injuries were reported.
The controller instructed the Etihad aircraft to stop after detecting the runway crossing and directed the approaching Republic aircraft to abandon its landing. The Republic aircraft remained airborne and landed safely on its second approach at about 15:09 local time.
Controllers subsequently allowed the Boeing 787 to continue taxiing and provided its crew with a telephone number concerning a possible pilot deviation. The reason for the runway crossing had not been established publicly, and neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor Etihad had released a formal explanation or severity classification in the available reporting.
The incident created a runway-incursion risk because a heavy commercial aircraft entered a runway being used for arrivals despite an acknowledged hold-short instruction. Etihad’s return flight EY8 departed later than scheduled but reached Abu Dhabi approximately seven minutes late, while no continuing disruption was reported for the Republic operation.