两架飞机在美国最繁忙的机场之一上空千钧一发,美国联邦航空管理局(FAA)正在对此进行调查。
该机构表示,8月17日,一架塞斯纳172飞机和一架达美航空公司的飞机在离开奥兰多国际机场后“近距离”相遇。
美国联邦航空局的初步信息显示,飞机在水平方向0.3英里和垂直方向500英尺的范围内飞行。
塞斯纳飞行员马利克·克拉克(Malik Clarke)告诉ABC新闻,当他看到跑道上的达美飞机时,他正按照空中交通管制指示向东飞行。
克拉克在接受美国广播公司新闻采访时说:“我们认为它已经着陆,因为我们认为空中交通管制员不会,你知道,把我们置于那样的境地。”
当他看到达美飞机起飞时,克拉克说他知道他需要做出反应。
2017年6月27日,奥兰多国际机场的控制塔。
icardo Ramirez bux EDA/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images,文件
“我知道这看起来不对,”克拉克说。“所以我立即右转,尽可能深地爬升,因为达美航空的波音757比我驾驶的飞机爬升率高得多。”
克拉克说,当达美飞机从他的飞机下面经过时,他刚刚转换了频率,没有与空中交通管制联系。
克拉克在社交媒体上发布的从驾驶舱拍摄的视频显示,达美飞机在小型飞机附近飞行。联邦航空局说,两架飞机的飞行员都报告说看到了对方。
达美航空表示,它“意识到”这起事件的报道,称“没有什么比安全更重要。”
代表空中交通管制(ATC)的工会全国空中交通管制员协会(National Air Traffic Controllers Association)表示,它不对联邦航空局正在进行的调查发表评论。
奥兰多国际机场没有立即回应ABC新闻的置评请求。
FAA investigating after 2 planes have close call over Orlando Airport
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating after two planes had a close call over one of the busiest airports in the country.
The agency said a Cessna 172 and a Delta Air Lines flight passed "in close proximity" to one another after departing the Orlando International Airport on August 17.
Preliminary information from the FAA shows the planes came within three-tenths of a mile horizontally and 500 feet vertically.
Malik Clarke, the Cessna pilot, told ABC News he was following air traffic control instructions to head east when he saw the Delta plane on the runway.
"We thought it had landed because we thought there's no way air traffic controllers would, you know, put us in a situation like that," Clarke said in an interview with ABC News.
When he saw the Delta plane taking off, Clarke said he knew he needed to react.
"I knew that this didn't look right," Clarke said. "So immediately I turned right, and I climbed as deeply as I could because the Boeing 757 from Delta has a much higher climb rate than the aircraft that I was flying."
Clarke said he had just switched frequencies and was not in contact with air traffic control when the Delta plane passed beneath his aircraft.
Video posted to social media by Clarke taken from the cockpit shows the Delta plane flying near the small aircraft. Pilots of both aircrafts reported having the other in sight, the FAA said.
Delta said it was "aware" of reports of the incident, saying "Nothing is more important than safety."
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union that represents air traffic control (ATC), said it does not comment on ongoing FAA investigations.
Orlando International Airport did not immediately respond to request for comment from ABC News.