March 19 (Reuters) - The National Transportation Safety Board said on Thursday it is investigating a close call in which an Alaska Airlines flight overflew a FedEx airplane while both jets were attempting to land on crossing runways at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration said an air traffic controller around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday instructed Alaska Flight 294, a Boeing 737, to perform a go-around because FedEx Flight 721, a Boeing 777, was cleared for the final approach to an intersecting runway at the New Jersey airport near New York City.