Safety authorities probe mid-air incident
CANBERRA – Safety authorities in Australia have launched an enquiry into a mid-air near miss over the Northern Territory.
A Cathay Pacific flight and a Virgin Blue flight were two minutes away from a midair clash, according to reports.
A collision was avoided after Cathay pilots noticed the other aircraft and alerted air traffic controllers.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched a probe into the incident.
Former Hong Kong director of civil aviation Peter Lok Kung-nam – quoted in the Hong Kong Standard newspaper suspects negligence on the part of air traffic controllers and said it is something that should not have happened.
The Cathay Pacific flight CX135, an Airbus A330 carrying 309 passengers, was heading south to Melbourne from Hong Kong a week ago when the crew queried the flight path.
The Virgin Blue flight DJ1457, a Boeing 737 carrying 120 passengers, was flying north to Darwin from Melbourne.
The two aircraft were traveling at 37,000 feet and were 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) away from each other.
Lok says the two aircraft would have had a closing speed of about 600 nautical miles per hour, meaning they would pass or collide in about two minutes if they continued on the same track.
“An appropriate avoidance action was taken by the Cathay Pacific crew. The matter is now under investigation by the Australian authorities and we have already filed a report to Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department,” a Cathay spokeswoman said.
“It’s not uncommon for aircraft to pass each other in flight and there are procedures in place around the world to ensure a safe separation,” Virgin Blue spokesman Colin Lippiatt said.
Lippiatt added that what happened demonstrates the procedures that are in place work, and that it is not accurate to call the incident a near miss.
The two aircraft should have been the standard 29 nautical miles apart, according to Airservices Australia, which oversees air traffic control. They were both flying at 37,000 feet.
Both aircraft changed course and altitude to return to normal separation standards, Rob Walker, a spokesman for Airservices Australia, said. “Its not unusual, but obviously we take them very seriously when they happen.”
”
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists