The FAA is investigating after two planes came dangerously close to one another just after take-off at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Friday morning.
According to the agency, one of the planes involved in the incident began to turn left after its take-off, and was ordered to stop climbing and to turn to avoid a “potential conflict” with another jet in the air over the airport.
“The FAA is investigating a possible loss of separation between two aircraft departing from Chicago O’Hare International Airport today,” the agency said in a statement. “According to preliminary information, an Embraer 145 departed from Runway 10-Left and began a left turn, rather than flying straight ahead as instructed. Air traffic controllers noticed the error and immediately issued instructions for the pilot to stop climbing and to turn to avoid a potential conflict with a Boeing 737, which had just taken off from Runway 9-Right.”
Eyewitnesses told the Chicago Sun-Times that the two planes appeared to come close together before taking evasive action to avoid a collision.
“They took evasive action simultaneously,” the witness said. “It was freaky.”
An American Airlines spokesman told the newspaper that the airline is aware of the issue, and that they are cooperating with the FAA’s investigation.
