Passenger jets narrowly avoid collision over Australia

Two airlines involved in what has been described as a serious near miss over the Northern Territory in Australia have played down reports that the two jets were on a collision course.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is looking into hw an Airbus A330 operated by Cathay Pacific and a Virgin Blue Boeing 737 happened to be on the same course at the same altitude on Tuesday last week.

It is understood the Virgin Blue jet, carrying 120 passengers, was flying into the path of a Cathay Pacific A330 south of the small town of Katherine last Tuesday.

Initial reports claim that they were heading into the path of each other at the same altitude of 37,000 when the Cathay Pacific plane was instructed to fly at the wrong heading.

It is believed that the Virgin Blue was dangerously close to the south-bound Cathay Pacific jet heading from Hong Kong to Melbourne.

The ATSB said the problem was first noticed when the pilots of the Cathay Pacific aircraft questioned the controller who told the aircraft to climb and change heading, which prevented a collision.

The pilots of the Virgin Blue aircraft informed air traffic controllers that they would turn right, allowing both planes to pass each other safely.

The ATSB initial  report states that when the crew of the A330 questioned the controller, the controller then instructed the crew of the A330 to climb to 38,000 feet and cleared the aircraft to divert right of track.

Meanwhile both airlines have released statements regarding the incident, with Virgin Blue spokesman Colin Lippiat saying that it was inaccurate to call the incident a near miss, while Cathay Pacific claiming that its flight crew acted appropriately.