The FAA is looking into a reported close call involving a JetBlue Airbus A321 and a small aircraft, which appeared to turn toward the commercial flight as it neared Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The incident took place Monday evening as JetBlue Flight 1256, from Guayaquil, Ecuador, prepared to land at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. Air traffic controllers alerted the flight that a Beechcraft 76 Duchess was flying in the area and was not in contact with the control tower.
“They’re turning toward us,” one of the JetBlue pilots said, according to audio captured by LiveATC.
The pilots told air traffic control that they received a collision avoidance alert about the other airplane and climbed higher to avoid it.
“That guy’s insane,” a controller said.
The two aircraft passed within about a mile of each other horizontally, and the JetBlue flight landed safely at the airport. The FAA said required separation was maintained.
ABC News reported that the Beechcraft is owned by a flight school in the area. In a statement to a local ABC affiliate, the flight school said the pilot of the small aircraft did not do anything wrong.
