US Marine Corps fighter jet changes course to avoid passenger aircraft

Airline Industry Information, Sept 8, 2003

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

A US Marine Corps F/A-18 fighter jet was forced to immediately alter its course to avoid a commercial passenger aircraft.

The incident occurred on 2 September at about 2020 local time when one of two US Marine Corps Hornets returning to Darwin airport, Australia, lost radio communication. The second F/A-18 led the first aircraft to make a "blind" landing on runway 29 and then began climbing again to leave the no-radio aircraft free to land.

However, as it reached 300m, an air traffic control officer instructed it to "immediately" turn left in order for the aircraft to keep a "safe distance" from a large commercial passenger aircraft.

Wing Commander Brett Gill, who is in charge of air traffic control for both military and civilian aircraft, said that the commercial aircraft was not in danger.

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