Asia-Pacific News
Aviation near-miss investigated in Australia
Dec 28, 2009, 6:46 GMT
Sydney - Air safety authorities are investigating how two passenger planes were put on a collision course over the far north of Australia last week.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau said Monday that it was unlikely the planes had been close to colliding, given that neither of their automatic warning systems had been activated.
The flight crew of a Cathay Pacific Airbus A330, travelling south to Melbourne from Hong Kong, questioned the air traffic controller, who confirmed a mistake had been made.
The other plane involved in the December 22 incident was a Virgin Blue Boeing 737 flying from Melbourne at the same altitude of 37,000 feet (11,000 metres).
The Airbus was ordered to climb to 38,000 feet.
'There was a breakdown of separation standards,' the bureau said in a statement on its website. 'The investigation is continuing.'
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