Two passenger plane got within 700ft collision over Gatwick airpot after air traffic controller missed the first plane on his radar - And went on his due break

Two passenger jets were involved in a near miss at Gatwick airport after an air traffic controller 'missed' one of the planes on his screen.

An Airbus 319 was given clearance to take off from the airport but came within 700ft of another plane, also a 319, that had left Gatwick minutes before.

When the air traffic controller responsible for the flight realised what was happening he 'issued avoiding action to the pilot', an official report stated. The UK Airprox Board found that the near miss was caused by the air traffic controller not scanning his radar display before clearing the second pilot to climb. He then went on a break.

The report said: 'He [the controller] did not remember seeing A319(B) on his radar scan before issuing the climb to the pilot of A319(A).

'He should have seen (the first aircraft) ahead,' the report added.

But the risk of an actual collision was 'low', according the report.  A 'standard procedure' of reducing the usual separation time between departing aircraft to increase frequency - from two minutes to 45 seconds - was given as a contributory factor.

The UKAB added that 'poor co-ordination' by air traffic control staff also had an impact.

Separation between the aircraft was reduced to 700ft vertically and around two miles horizontally.

The report found that 'safety had been degraded' but the 'rate of catch-up between the two aircraft was very low'.

The incident was assessed as having the third most serious degree of risk by the UKAB.

Source; Mailonline

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