Falling Russian Satellite Narrowly Misses Airliner
Quote:
Space junk falls around airliner: report
Mar 28 04:20 AM US/Eastern
Flaming space junk from a Russian satellite narrowly missed hitting a Chilean airliner over the Pacific Ocean, reports said Wednesday.
The pilot of a LAN Chile Airbus A340 en route to New Zealand told air traffic controllers he had seen pieces of flaming space junk falling about eight kilometres (four miles) in front of the plane and behind it, TV3 said.
The aircraft was not struck by any of the debris and later landed safely in Auckland.
Airways New Zealand, which manages New Zealand's air traffic, said it had been warned by Russian authorities that an obsolete satellite was due to fall into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday.
But the debris had apparently fallen into the area 12 hours earlier than the time advised by the Russians.
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for air safety, said it would launch an inquiry after it was advised of the details of the incident.
Re: Falling Russian Satellite Narrowly Misses Airliner
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Originally Posted by GothamSpotter
The pilot of a LAN Chile Airbus A340 en route to New Zealand told air traffic controllers he had seen pieces of flaming space junk falling about eight kilometres (four miles) in front of the plane and behind it, TV3 said.
Four miles? That's not even close! Just further proof of the "Big Sky, Little Airplane" theory :wink:
Re: Falling Russian Satellite Narrowly Misses Airliner
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Originally Posted by moose135
Quote:
Originally Posted by GothamSpotter
The pilot of a LAN Chile Airbus A340 en route to New Zealand told air traffic controllers he had seen pieces of flaming space junk falling about eight kilometres (four miles) in front of the plane and behind it, TV3 said.
Four miles? That's not even close! Just further proof of the "Big Sky, Little Airplane" theory :wink:
Well it said some fell behind him as well so they were right in the middle of it all
Re: Falling Russian Satellite Narrowly Misses Airliner
Quote:
Originally Posted by GothamSpotter
Quote:
Space junk falls around airliner: report
Mar 28 04:20 AM US/Eastern
The pilot of a LAN Chile Airbus A340 en route to New Zealand told air traffic controllers he had seen pieces of flaming space junk falling about eight kilometres (four miles) in front of the plane and behind it, TV3 said.
Ummm, one question...how did he see the "flaming space junk" falling BEHIND the plane? Last time I checked, the A340 did not have a rear-view mirror -OR- a window out the back.
Re: Falling Russian Satellite Narrowly Misses Airliner
Quote:
Originally Posted by lijk604
Quote:
Originally Posted by GothamSpotter
Quote:
Space junk falls around airliner: report
Mar 28 04:20 AM US/Eastern
The pilot of a LAN Chile Airbus A340 en route to New Zealand told air traffic controllers he had seen pieces of flaming space junk falling about eight kilometres (four miles) in front of the plane and behind it, TV3 said.
Ummm, one question...how did he see the "flaming space junk" falling BEHIND the plane? Last time I checked, the A340 did not have a rear-view mirror -OR- a window out the back.
Of course he saw it, John. They were... inverted. ;)
Actually I was on this flight and have footage of the falling debris. Uploaded it to Anet as an incident and priority, but it was rejected. :twisted: :roll: