Alaska Airlines 737 Nearly Collided With Small Cargo Plane

An Alaska Airlines 737 arriving at Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage from Portland was advised by air traffic controllers to go around on Thursday when it came within a quarter mile of an Ace Air Cargo airplane flying at the same altitude over Fire Island.

NTSB Spokesman Clint Johnson said that the the go-around was initiated to allow proper separation of the airplanes as they approached the airport.

WebProNews.com reports that the TCAS system aboard the 737 warned the crew of the proximity of the other airplane, and they climbed to a higher altitude to avoid the collision. Alaska Airlines said in a statement that “our pilots are highly trained and skilled at responding to situations like this and are to be commended for their handling of the situation.”

Ace Air Cargo pilot Todd Erickson said that both planes were aware of the situation and were in communication with ATC throughout the incident.

The NTSB is investigating. Data from ATC and the two airplanes will be examined as part of that investigation.

(Image from file. Not incident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov