A near-collision between a United Airlines flight and a Delta Air Lines flight near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Saturday is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The incident occurred around 11 a.m. as both planes approached the airport with passengers onboard.
Delta Flight 1070 from Detroit, carrying 245 passengers, had been cleared to land on Runway 8 when an automated collision warning sounded in the cockpit. Simultaneously, United Flight 1724 from San Francisco, with 123 passengers, received a similar warning as the planes came dangerously close. Data from FlightRadar24 revealed the aircraft were just 425 feet apart vertically and 1,200 feet apart horizontally—well below the recommended five-mile horizontal separation for planes of this size.
Justin Giddens, an aviation enthusiast walking near the airport with his family, captured live footage of the close encounter. “It was immediate panic mode,” Giddens said, recounting his knowledge of typical flight patterns and the unusual proximity of the planes.
In audio obtained by CBS News, air traffic control cleared the United flight to land on Runway 7 right and directed the Delta flight to position for Runway 8. Moments later, the collision warnings activated, prompting pilots on both flights to adjust altitude to avoid disaster. Both planes landed safely.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor and aviation safety expert Cary Grant reviewed the incident, attributing it to possible air traffic controller distraction. “I don’t think there was any real chance of a collision because visibility was perfect that day,” Grant said, adding that both flight crews responded appropriately to the warnings.
Both airlines praised their crews’ training and swift actions. Delta emphasized that its pilots are trained for such rare scenarios, while United confirmed that its pilots acted immediately upon hearing the warning.
The FAA continues its investigation, examining air traffic control procedures and other factors contributing to the incident. For witnesses like Giddens, the experience serves as a sobering reminder of the precision required in aviation safety. “It just makes you think—they really avoided a major disaster,” he said.
