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FAA Investigating Near Collision Over Iowa

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FAA Investigating Near Collision Over Iowa

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Jan 19, 2007 at 11:21 AM CST

Story Updated: Jan 21, 2007 at 7:54 PM CST

AP - The union representing air traffic controllers says a near-miss of two passenger jets over Iowa was due to improper staffing and a lack of fully trained personnel.

The Federal Aviation Administration blames a mistake by a controller at the agency's Chicago Center radar facility in Aurora, Ill., and the agency says that staffing is adequate.

The incident in question involves two jets that were less than two miles apart Tuesday and heading toward each when onboard collision alarms went off. FAA officials say a controller also realized the situation and ordered one of the planes to turn.

One of the planes was a United Express flight headed to O'Hare. The other was a Northwest Airlines flight en route to Denver.

The FAA is investigating.

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