FAA is investigating after two flights almost collide on their way into Sky Harbor

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after two aircraft nearly collided on their way into Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on June 16.

One of the planes involved was American Airlines Flight 2133, which departed from Newark on the morning of the incident.

Flight records show that this American Airlines flight used an Airbus A321 plane with a capacity of up to 220 passengers.

The other aircraft, according to flight tracking data, was a Beechcraft Super King Air 200, which departed from El Paso, Texas. Flight records show the plane is owned and operated by Emergent Air LLC, based out of El Paso, but is chartered by Elite Medical Transport LLC, which is also based out of the same city.

An air traffic transmission recording of the day of the incident shows that the two planes were approaching Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport around 12:20 p.m.

Details of the incident were pulled from the recording, which is publicly accessible through liveatc.net, and flight tracking information, accessed through flightaware.com.

According to the transmission, as American Airlines Flight 2133 was approaching Sky Harbor, it received orders from the Sky Harbor tower directing it to land on runway 8. At the same time, the smaller Beechcraft Super King Airplane was identified as "medevac," meaning a medical evacuation plane, on the radio.

Another flight, American Airlines Flight 1083 flying in from Austin, Texas, made its final approach. As these flights approached, they all receive various instructions on their final approach to Phoenix Sky Harbor. The Medevac was asked to confirm if they could visually see the airport, which it confirms. Flight 2133 was asked to change its direction and descend to 4000 feet.

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By now, both Flight 2133 and the Medevac were turning toward the airport. A call was then made out to Flight 1083 clearing it to land on runway 8, but this instruction was intended for Flight 2133.

As Flight 1083 pilots repeated the call, Flight 2133 still headed straight to the path of the Medevac flight. The Medevac was then cleared to land, and another instruction was called out to Flight 1083, but interference from another flight blocked any response.

Flight 1083 was cleared to land as well, but Flight 2133 continued to fly perpendicular to the airport and was still on a path toward the Medevac flight.

“American 2133, we need to turn immediately,” the pilot of Flight 2133 said. After this, the flight was cleared to land by air traffic control. At the same time, an automated alert system notified air traffic control of the close proximity between Flight 2133 and the Medevac.

According to FAA officials, both planes were at its closest distance only .83 miles apart.

“Both pilots had the other aircraft in sight as they approached Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport,” according to FAA officials.

“050, we have the King Air [Medevac] in sight, American 2133 we were never cleared for approach,” said the Flight 2133 pilot.

Air traffic controllers then asked Flight 2133 to continue to maintain separation between itself and the Medevac. Both flights were thanked by air traffic controllers for maintaining separation from each other.

“American 2133, thanks for the help. I think someone stepped on your readback when I issued the clearance. I think somebody else read it back,” said air traffic control.

“You had us nose to nose with traffic. That was extremely dangerous,” said the Flight 2133 pilot.

Once American Airlines Flight 2133 landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor, the pilot requested contact with the tower to discuss the incident.

Representatives for Allied Pilots, the union that represents American Airlines pilots, were not available for comment.

The Arizona Republic reached out to Lee King, CEO of Emergent Air for comment on the situation, but did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

These types of incidents have become common across the United States. A close call in Minneapolis and another in San Fransisco have prompted the FAA to launch a new "Stand Up for Safety" campaign, a monthly training series designed to prevent incidents like the one that happened in Phoenix.

“To reach our goal of zero close calls, everyone must stay sharp,” said Tim Arel, FAA’s air traffic organization chief operating officer. “This training will give us an opportunity to focus on safety with our entire workforce.”

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Flights landing at Sky Harbor almost collide, FAA investigating matter