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http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/11347386.html
Two Planes Nearly Collide In Mid-Air
Tom Murray
Katie DeLong
Michael George
MILWAUKEE - A frightening story just as we enter the busy holiday travel season. A Midwest Connect flight out of Milwaukee came within seconds of colliding with another plane in the air over Indiana on Tuesday night.
Two planes, one from Midwest and one from United, were about 15 seconds away from crashing into each other. TODAY’S TMJ4 talked to an air traffic controller who says it could happen again.
Fifty-five passengers had a close call in the air on Tuesday night, due to an air traffic controller's nearly fatal mistake.
The radar screen shows the near collision. The two planes are practically on top of each other. Close calls like this have passengers concerned.
"I think that's scary and I hope there are mechanisms in place to make sure that doesn't happen," Angela Hickey said.
Thankfully, there was a mechanism in place. A cockpit warning alerted the Midwest flight that they were about to hit another plane. The pilot made an emergency climb when the planes were about a mile apart.
Air traffic controllers say they're understaffed and accidents like this are starting to happen more frequently.
The Aurora Chicago Center directs planes from Chicago to Wisconsin to Indiana. The Air Traffic Controller's Union head says they don't have enough people.
"I think these are the calling cards of what's to come, it's not a good situation," Jeff Richards said.
The FAA says there are enough air traffic controllers working. A Midwest Airlines spokesperson says passengers didn't even notice.
"It was a very smooth transition and apparently the passengers were unaware that it had even occurred," Carol Skornicka of Midwest Airlines said.
The mistake happened when the air traffic controller removed one of the planes from his radar and forgot about it. Fortunately, the backup warning system kicked in before it was too late.
Two Planes Nearly Collide In Mid-Air
Tom Murray
Katie DeLong
Michael George
MILWAUKEE - A frightening story just as we enter the busy holiday travel season. A Midwest Connect flight out of Milwaukee came within seconds of colliding with another plane in the air over Indiana on Tuesday night.
Two planes, one from Midwest and one from United, were about 15 seconds away from crashing into each other. TODAY’S TMJ4 talked to an air traffic controller who says it could happen again.
Fifty-five passengers had a close call in the air on Tuesday night, due to an air traffic controller's nearly fatal mistake.
The radar screen shows the near collision. The two planes are practically on top of each other. Close calls like this have passengers concerned.
"I think that's scary and I hope there are mechanisms in place to make sure that doesn't happen," Angela Hickey said.
Thankfully, there was a mechanism in place. A cockpit warning alerted the Midwest flight that they were about to hit another plane. The pilot made an emergency climb when the planes were about a mile apart.
Air traffic controllers say they're understaffed and accidents like this are starting to happen more frequently.
The Aurora Chicago Center directs planes from Chicago to Wisconsin to Indiana. The Air Traffic Controller's Union head says they don't have enough people.
"I think these are the calling cards of what's to come, it's not a good situation," Jeff Richards said.
The FAA says there are enough air traffic controllers working. A Midwest Airlines spokesperson says passengers didn't even notice.
"It was a very smooth transition and apparently the passengers were unaware that it had even occurred," Carol Skornicka of Midwest Airlines said.
The mistake happened when the air traffic controller removed one of the planes from his radar and forgot about it. Fortunately, the backup warning system kicked in before it was too late.
