Virgin Blue aircraft narrowly avoids Cessna jet

Airline Industry Information, Dec 4, 2003

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A Virgin Blue flight is said to have narrowly missed a twin-engine Cessna aircraft yesterday morning (3 December).

The passenger aircraft was travelling from the Gold Coast to Melbourne, Australia when it avoided the Cessna aircraft as it was descending towards Melbourne airport. Reports have suggested that the two aircraft were 20 seconds from colliding when a cockpit alarm was triggered in the Virgin Blue aircraft.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Airservices Australia and Virgin Blue have launched investigations into the incident.

A labour union has blamed the incident on a new air traffic control system, under which light aircraft are allowed to use commercial airspace without having their flight plans approved by air traffic control, reported The Associated Press.

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