A potentially catastrophic airplane crash was avoided by mere seconds thanks to a cool-as-ice air traffic controller, according to reports. Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera said the incident over Los Angeles was averted when the controller was able to alert the pilots to the danger. Flights ITA AZ621 and American AA4 were taking off from runways 24 and 25, respectively, on Friday, Oct. 31. The ITA Airways plane was bound for Rome and cleared to turn left, while the American Airlines Airbus A321 was bound for JFK and cleared to turn right. The Daily Mail reports that the ITA flight, thought to be an Airbus A339, turned left earlier than planned, putting the two planes on a collision course. They were going at more than 200 mph and came within 3000 feet of one another, meaning it would only have been seconds more before they collided. Correspondence between the pilots and air traffic controllers revealed that the ITA jet was instructed to “turn right immediately.” At the same time, the American flight was instructed to maintain its altitude at 1,500 feet. Air traffic control records show the ITA pilot received stern words. “You were supposed to maintain runway alignment,” the controller said. “Is there a reason it turned south?” “The company is completing the assessments required by applicable regulations and internal procedures,” ITA said. “ITA Airways confirms that the safety of its passengers and crews is the Company’s top priority.”
Read it at Corriere della Sera
