LONDON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- A British Airways jumbo jet nearly collided with an Argentinean passenger jet over France, aviation officials said.
Sources within the aviation industry said the British jet, which had been carrying 292 passengers and 18 crew, had been put on the same flight path as the Argentinean plane by French air traffic controllers, The Daily Mail reported Wednesday.
"French air traffic control is said to be to blame for putting them on the same flight level on a collision course. It happened a few weeks ago, but has been hushed up," an aviation insider said.
The alleged incident took place Sept. 29, but has only recently been revealed to the public, the report said.
"It was a very close run thing," said one of the British Airways crew members aboard the plane at the time. "The two aircraft were put on the same flight path by French air traffic control in Marseilles. Passengers at the rear of the aircraft saw the other plane approaching and were very frightened. The captain took evasive action by going into a steep climb and turning right.
"Afterwards, when things had calmed down," the crew member said, "the captain left the flight deck and went to the rear cabin to reassure the passengers and pacify them."
