FAA: 3 Planes Weren't On Head-To-Head Collision Course
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WASHINGTON -
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood insists says three jets that flew too close together near Washington, D.C., were never going to collide.
The close call happened Tuesday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.
The Washington Post reported that the three US Airways jets, carrying a 192 passengers and crew members – came within seconds of colliding near the airport.
The paper reported that air traffic controllers mistakenly cleared two outbound flights to head in the direction of an incoming plane.
The paper quoted but did not name federal officials with direct knowledge of the incident.
LaHood says great work by an air traffic controller eliminated any possibility of danger.
"At no point – I want to emphasize this – at no point were these planes on a head-to-head collision course," LaHood said.
"There was going to be no head-to-head collision of these planes. There was a loss of separation. It shouldn't have happened, but because of a well-trained controller at DCA tower, who immediately recognized the situation and worked to fix it. And I want to congratulate the controller for her good work."
LaHood says miscommunication between a regional radar facility and traffic coordinators at Reagan Airport caused the problem.
US Airways said it is working with the FAA to determine exactly what happened.
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