Alaska Airlines Almost Crashed Midair Into Another Plane in Oregon Last Week

An Embraer E175 operated by Alaska Airlines’ wholly-owned regional subsidiary, Horizon Air, reportedly experienced a close call during its approach in Redmond, Oregon, last week. The ordeal prompted the pilots to abort landing and go around the airport.

One passenger onboard the flight recalled seeing another aircraft coming toward the E175 from below. The plane in question was an aerial wildland firefighting air tanker used to attend to the several wildfires currently burning around the state. . .

According to News Channel 21, the Central Oregon local NBC and The CW affiliate, the incident occurred on October 9th, involving QX2083 from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft, registered as N636QX, was approaching Runway 05 at Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) around 12:48.

Two minutes later, data indicates the E175 was only 275 feet away from a BAe 146 air tanker operated by Neptune Aviation Services. The aircraft was flying southwest at an altitude of 3,850 feet, while the E175 was headed northwest at 4,125 feet. Peter Steinbach, one of the passengers onboard, reportedly said the pilot changed course and pulled the plane up to delay the landing.

Data shows the E175 climbed in altitude and flew over RDM. It reached 9,400 feet and subsequently 9,900 feet as it performed a go-around. The aircraft landed safely at 13:12 and taxied to the gate without incident. Steinbach reportedly asked the pilot about the event, and the pilot confirmed that intervention was necessary. Simple Flying reached out to Steinbach, Alaska, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for confirmation of the incident. (Read more from “Alaska Airlines Almost Crashed Midair Into Another Plane in Oregon Last Week” HERE)

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