Officials silent on near crash

THE Air Traffic and Navigation Services Company – which manages the air traffic control facility at the Port Elizabeth Airport – is remaining tightlipped about the near-fatal accident that almost saw two planes collide on the runway a week ago.

The incident has prompted the aviation watchdog, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), to launch a probe.

According to airport officials, an SA Express plane from Durban was approaching the airport to land at the same time as a South African Airways aircraft was preparing to take off for a flight to Johannesburg.

The SA Express plane was forced to abort its landing.

Most passengers on both planes remained oblivious to their narrow escape that could have left hundreds dead.

Yesterday, Air Traffic and Navigation Services Company (ATNS) spokesman Percy Morokane refused to answer queries regarding the incident, stating an internal probe had been launched.

Morokane also refused to elaborate on whether the air traffic control operator had been suspended and if any action had been taken.

At the time, Port Elizabeth Airport manager Azad Cassim confirmed an incident had been recorded and an investigation was under way.

Cassim referred any further comment to ATNS who are employed to man the airport's air traffic controls.

CAA spokeswoman Phindiwe Gwebu said such incidents were "not a frequent occurrence".

"The incident will be investigated by our air traffic services department. We are unable to give you more information about this incident and we believe the investigation will give us an insight into what really happened." - Gareth Wilson