A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 swerved to dodge a medical helicopter in an air traffic incident at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Flight 1333 from Baltimore to Cleveland was on its final approach on 29 October when the “loss of separation” event took place. That means two aircraft breached the prescribed minimum safety distance required by air traffic control to prevent collisions.
The two planes were reportedly separated by just over half a mile at their closest point.
According to The Aviation Herald, the aircraft stopped its descent at around 1,800 feet and turned right to avoid the Eurocopter.
It landed safely without further incident around 13 minutes later.
Metro Aviation, which operated the helicopter, confirmed to Fox 8 that it was heading to a nearby hospital to collect a patient and that there were no patients on board at the time of the incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that an investigation team was dispatched to the scene.
The Independent has approached Southwest Airlines and Metro Aviation for comment.
In a statement, Southwest Airlines said: “Southwest Airlines Flight 1333 landed safely at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on October 29 after the pilots discontinued their initial approach to the runway due to the presence of another aircraft.
“The pilots were in contact with air traffic control throughout the event, and the Boeing 737-700 landed uneventfully a short time later.”
The incident shares similarities with the tragic collision of American Airlines flight 5324 with an Army helicopter in January this year. All 64 on board the plane were killed, as were three in the helicopter.
The incident is the latest to occur amidst a federal government shutdown and a nationwide understaffing issue affecting air traffic control towers.
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