Small Commuter Planes Nearly Collide At SFO

May 27 - KGO (KGO) -- There was a near miss at SFO, two commuter jets came within 300-feet of each other. The incident happened as one plane was landing while another was taking off. Officials are considering it a serious incursion.

SFO has around three close calls every year. But the near collision Saturday was much closer than what they've seen before.

There are roughly 360,000 flights at SFO every year, but on Saturday, two planes got too close for comfort. Two passenger planes came within 300 feet of each other. It happened as one plane had just landed, the other had just taken off. According to the FAA, the departing plane over flew the other aircraft by only 300 feet.

Ian Gregor, FAA spokesperson: "This appears to be one of the most serious runway events in San Francisco. The controller should not have cleared an aircraft to land and an aircraft to depart on the same time on those intersecting runways."

The planes involved were small commuter planes, an Embraer 120 and an Embraer 170, one operated by Provence Aero Service the other by SkyWest. The FAA is investigating the near-collision. They say fatigue wasn't an issue because the air traffic controller had just started his shift. They also say it was not a staffing issue because the tower was fully staffed at the time. They believe the air traffic controller just made an honest mistake.

Ron Wilson, ABC7 Aviation Consultant: "The rule is that this aircraft that is landing, has to be through this intersection at these two runways, before this departing airplane even gets clearance to start rolling for it to takeoff. Apparently that was not the case."

ABC7 aviation consultant Ron Wilson says the unique layout of SFO makes air traffic control work tedious. As the intersecting runways can often create a confusing situation.

Ron Wilson, ABC7 Aviation Consultant: "All the airplanes are not landing and taking off in the same direction so the looking at the same place all the time. At SFO you have to look at different places."

No word on how long the FAA needs to investigate this case. They say it's too soon to say if the air traffic controller will face any disciplinary action.

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