US President Donald Trump’s plane had a close encounter with a Spirit Airlines flight en route to London on September 16.
Incident Details
The incident occurred when a Spirit Airlines plane flying from Fort Lauderdale to Boston came unusually close to Air Force One, which was heading to London.
The two planes were over Long Island when air traffic controllers noticed they were flying exceptionally close to each other, at one point about 11 miles (approximately 18 km) apart.
Air Traffic Control Response
Air traffic controllers quickly reacted, instructing the Spirit Airlines pilot to turn 20 degrees right to avoid a potential collision.
A Spirit Airlines spokesperson told CBS News that “Flight 1300 followed all procedures and air traffic control instructions en route to Boston and landed without incident.”
Trump’s UK Visit
President Trump began his visit to the UK on Tuesday at the invitation of King Charles III, landing at Stansted Airport.
His schedule includes a meeting with the British monarch and Prime Minister Keir Starmer on September 18.
