A Delta Air Lines flight with 137 people on board narrowly avoided a catastrophic collision with an Air Force jet on Wednesday.
According to reports, the Delta flight was on its final approach to land at Raleigh-Durham International Airport when air traffic controllers alerted the pilots to the presence of the Air Force jet in the vicinity.
“We were on final approach, and the controller called out traffic at our 12 o’clock position,” said the pilot of the Delta flight. “We looked up and saw the Air Force jet passing just a few hundred feet above us.”
The Air Force jet, which was on a training mission, was reportedly flying without its transponder turned on, making it difficult for air traffic controllers to track its location.
“This was a very close call, and we are grateful that the pilots of the Delta flight were able to take evasive action to avoid a collision,” said a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “We are investigating this incident and will take steps to ensure that it does not happen again.”
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of air traffic control systems and the need for more effective communication between pilots and air traffic controllers.
“This incident highlights the importance of effective communication and situational awareness in the cockpit,” said a spokesperson for the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). “We will continue to work with the FAA and other stakeholders to improve air safety and prevent incidents like this from happening in the future.”
The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has also been notified.