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US Airways pilot investigated after near-miss

Jet veered into path of another plane at Philadelphia airport over weekend

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Audio: Two planes nearly collide on runway
Aug. 2: Listen to the Air Traffic Control tapes as two planes nearly collided at Philadelphia International Airport last weekend. WCAU's Tim Lake reports.

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updated 3:18 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - A US Airways pilot is under investigation for veering his jet into the path of another plane on the ground at the city's airport, federal authorities said Thursday.

The US Airways flight from Las Vegas landed shortly before midnight Sunday at Philadelphia International Airport.

Air traffic controllers told the pilot to turn right, said Arlene Salac, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration. Instead, the pilot went left and crossed a runway being used by an Air Wisconsin flight to Cincinnati. Controllers told the Air Wisconsin pilot to turn at the closest taxiway to avoid a collision.

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A preliminary report shows that more than 1,000 feet separated the planes, Salac said.

Morgan Durrant, a US Airways spokesman, said the airline is investigating. The pilot, who has worked for the airline for more than 20 years, has not been grounded.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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