Two RAF Typhoon fighter jets came within feet of a “catastrophic” crash with a Hercules transporter plane in the pitch dark
Investigators reveal crash was only avoided because "inexperienced" pilot did not heed his lead pilot's instruction to pull up
TWO RAF Typhoon fighter jets passed within feet of a “catastrophic” crash with another aircraft because a novice pilot did not see it.
The £87million supersonic jets passed within 500ft of a giant C130 plane as they took off from RAF Dishforth near Harrogate, North Yorks.
One of the planes was being flown by an “inexperienced” pilot who was wearing night-vision goggles for the first time.
And experts revealed the incident could have resulted in disaster had he listened to his fellow pilot’s instructions to pull up as they passed the cargo plane.
Investigators into the February incident said: “Members thought that it had been fortuitous that the No2 pilot had not assimilated the climb instruction issued by his leader because, if he had, this would probably have resulted in him climbing towards the C130.
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“This was clearly a worrying incident with a potentially catastrophic outcome.”
The findings continued: “This was an alarming incident which has been subject to a thorough internal investigation.
“As a tactical pair, the formation leader takes responsibility for the avoidance of other traffic, in this case the lead was also working both the Air Traffic frequency as well as the ground controller’s frequency due to the fact the number two was inexperienced.”
It was not confirmed whether disciplinary action was taken against either of the pilots.
The transporter C130 plane was not a British-owned aircraft.
Typhoons were developed as a joint-European venture in the 1990s with Britain buying around 130 of the high-tech jets.
They are capable of reaching speeds of 1,500mph.
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