Landing Airliner Executes Missed Approach

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 01.05.07 1620 EST: An apparent close call today at Denver International Airport... as the National Transportation Safety Board is heading to the scene to investigate a runway incursion involving two aircraft.

The NTSB states at 7:28 am MST Friday morning, Frontier Airlines flight 297, an Airbus A319, broke out of low clouds as it was about to land on runway 35 left. The Frontier flight crew saw a Swearingen Metroliner, Key Lime Air flight 4216, which had inadvertently entered the runway.

The Frontier flight immediately executed a missed approach. It is estimated that the aircraft came within 50 feet of each other.

The Airport Movement Area Safety System (AMASS) alerted the control tower personnel of the situation at the same time the Frontier crew saw the Metroliner on the runway. Weather at the time of the incident was one-half mile visibility, ceiling 600 feet overcast, snow and mist.

The Federal Aviation Administration is assisting in the investigation.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov