Air Force Apologizes For Near Miss

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WASHINGTON, D.C.: An Air Force review of an uncomfortably close encounter between an F-16 and a passenger jet preparing to land at JFK airport in New York has concluded that the military air traffic controller was responsible for the incident. While the Nations Air flight had been cleared by civilian controllers to approach JFK, military air traffic control failed to inform the F-16 pilot that the airliner was in the area. While the F-16 pilots commander quickly instructed him to veer away from the airliner, Air Force officials so far have no plans to reprimand the pilot for hanging frighteningly close to the commercial plane after it was obvious that it was an innocent craft. To prevent future mishaps, Major General Donald Peterson said the Air Force would give regular training for pilots on civilian Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems; would implement new procedures to rely more heavily on radar and contact with controllers in identifying unexpected aircraft, and will conduct a special review of military operations in the region in cooperation with the FAA. While U.S. military craft will continue to guard coastal air space from intruders, commercial airliners hopping from Miami to Manhattan should not fear that they will be mistaken for hostile military planes.