Mid-Air Close Call Blamed On Air Traffic Controller Mistake

SAN DIEGO --

A close call between two airliners, one of which took off from Lindbergh Field, is being blamed on an air traffic controller's mistake.

On the morning of January 19, an American Airlines regional jet took off from San Diego on its way to Los Angeles.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the American Airlines jet came within fewer than three miles of a much larger 767 airliner on its way to Los Angeles International Airport from Santiago, Chile. The FAA said both aircraft were flying at nearly the same altitude.

"Was there ever a danger for the people flying on those planes?" asked the I-Team's Mitch Blacher

"Oh, absolutely," said air traffic controller Melvin Davis. "When we finally realized it, it was too late."

The FAA told 10News there was never a danger of a mid-air collision, but the danger was from what is called 'wake turbulence.'

Wake turbulence occurs when large airplanes like a 767 kick air over their wings and cause tornadic winds. This can send nearby smaller aircraft out of control, and it's why air traffic controllers have to maintain a minimum of five miles between airplanes.

"What happened here is we have people who are stretched too thin and for too long," Davis said. Controllers contend they are overworked and understaffed while working the busiest air corridor in the country.

The FAA told 10News air traffic control in Southern California is fully staffed.

"In no way was this a staffing issue. The controller handling the plane was a good controller, a veteran controller a fully certified controller," said FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.

The FAA said passengers likely didn't know there was a problem because the pilot of the smaller aircraft was able to stay out of the 767's wake.

"A good controller just made an unfortunate mistake. This had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with staffing," Gregor added.

In April 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation investigated controller staffing levels in Southern California. The report concluded, "Ensuring these facilities remain adequately staffed … is vital to the safety and efficiency of the entire system. The FAA must take a number of actions to maximize its staffing efforts."

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