Heathrow-bound planes in mid-air 'near miss'

Wenn

Spectators at Wentworth golf course were yesterday left "gasping" as two Heathrow-bound passenger planes looked to be heading for a mid-air collision above their heads.

But, in reality, the distance between the planes was not uncommon.

According to the Daily Mail, the plane on the left is a mile or two lower than the plane on the right, and both are taking part in a process called 'stacking', where pilots wait their turn to land.

So crowds at the BMW PGA Championship in Surrey actually witnessed an optical illusion.

A spokesman for air traffic control at Heathrow told the paper: "At all times, planes are kept five horizontal miles apart and at least 1,000ft vertically. Even when it looks like the planes are close, there is no danger."

He added: "We do hear reports of these from time to time - especially in the summer when it is a perfectly clear day and there are no visual reference points, making it appear that two planes are close."

And visitors at Wentworth certainly thought they were about to witness a mid-air disaster.

Related articles

Two planes in 'serous' near miss in Dublin as one illegally enters runway

Near miss! Passenger plane flies into RAF 'war games'

Prince William and Kate Middleton in 'mid-air collision' near miss

This landing no doubt ended up being textbook perfect, but some airports have rather scarier take-offs and landings:

%VIRTUAL-Gallery-135186%