Another close call in New York City airspace

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The feds say -- Jumbo jet and the military playing nearly crashed head on with hundreds of lives in the balance.

Investigators report that a packed American Airlines Boeing seven triple seven.

Or triple seven I should say like this one was headed to Brazil when it crossed -- with a huge military cargo jet like this one.

It happened in January of last year but the feds are just now releasing details of this close call.

They say the two planes were flying about ninety miles east of New York City.

When they somehow ended up barreling directly toward each other the American Airlines pilot swerving to safety just in time.

Still investigators say the jets came within 2000 feet of each other they're supposed to stay miles apart.

The report blames it distracted air traffic controller.

Experts say that is especially troubling since air traffic controllers are busy northeast are supposed to be among the very best of the best.

Trace Gallagher that -- the planes were on a crash course for what.

More than a full minute.

-- which is an eternity -- when it comes to not taking corrective action both of these planes were 22000 feet going right at each other despite the fact the air traffic controller was told.

Managing -- 777 to not let that plane get above 20000 feet but he was giving instructions to another plane of the time any temporarily.

Forgot about the Jumbo jet the supervisor in the control tower said when she saw.

Those planes crossed paths on the radar she was shocked and the pilot of the 777.

Said at the time.

That -- pass this now that was not good it was the collision avoidance alarm that averted disaster -- But there's a certain potential for conflict at first alerts that -- And that's called -- traffic advisory.

And then if it gets to pay -- much closer threat of a collision.

It provides it was called a resolution advisory.

And it's simply tells the pilot to climb or descend -- -- date this system falls back on vertically separating the airplane.

What's unclear and this report is if the air traffic controllers in question were actually disciplined.

For the slip up shut it traced noticing that the statistics indicate that they're more close calls these days are we just hearing more about.

You know it's kind of a little bit of both because at times there's no doubt in the past couple years maybe three years there had -- rash of close calls kind of coupled with errors by.

Air traffic controllers and we look at the numbers for just 2011 and 2011 there were 19100.

Control.

Errors that's 80% more than 2007 now some of that is that self reporting has actually gone up.

And that ground incidents are kind of figured in -- but the NTSB says the numbers are troubling.

They give some contributing factors as the following strains of heavy traffic especially in places like the northeast.

Controllers who are in adequately trained.

And controllers that are simply worn out.

From extensive overtime but it's also worth noting that as we sit here in 2012 this is now.

The safest that aviation has ever -- In the history of the United States yeah.

Trace Gallagher lives and.

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Another close call in New York City airspace

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