Aviation officials Wednesday were investigating a possible violation of flight regulations by the commander of the space shuttle Atlantis after he reportedly flew his jet trainer within 100 feet vertically of a Pan Am airliner.
Navy Capt. David M. Walker, was flying a NASA T-38 plane en route to a White House ceremony honoring the Atlantis astronauts when the incident, reported by the airliner's pilot as a "near midair collision," occurred Monday evening outside Washington.Near-collision reports generally are filed whenever planes come within 500 feet of each other and are in danger of colliding.
"We are looking at a possible pilot deviation," FAA spokesman John Leyden said. He said air traffic controllers reported the alleged deviation after Walker's plane descended to 7,000 feet - the same altitude as the airliner - when it had been instructed to go to 8,000 feet.