Jumbos too close for comfort over Auckland

Two Boeing 747s carrying hundreds of passengers came unacceptably close to each other in airspace above Auckland, accident investigators said yesterday.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission said a Qantas jet came within two to three kilometres of an Air New Zealand aircraft shortly after 5pm on Saturday, infringing the required separation space.

But commission spokesman John Mockett said the two jets were not in any particular danger.

"The Qantas aircraft went up about a mile and a half [2.4km] behind the Air New Zealand aircraft. There was no danger of collision, but you're supposed to have a three-mile [4.8km] separation."

He said all parties involved seemed to have acted appropriately, but the separation distance was infringed and an investigation is required.

A commission statement said Flight QF43, from Sydney, was coming in to Auckland Airport when air traffic control told it to abort its landing approach because a light aircraft was heading towards its path.

It turned towards the central city. As it manoeuvred, a ground proximity warning forced the crew to start climbing to 1500m.

In doing so, QF43 came within two to three kilometres of Flight NZ124 from Melbourne, which was descending through 1370m.

Mr Mockett said the planes were not damaged.

Air New Zealand chief pilot Captain David Morgan said the airline's role was not being investigated.

"We are an involved party, but it's a Qantas incident.

"The Qantas aircraft moved through our aircraft's altitude space."

Captain Morgan said 281 passengers and 15 crew were on board Flight NZ124.

Mr Mockett said the Air New Zealand aircraft was an unaffected third party. He said further investigations would continue.

"We don't even know yet what may have caused the ground proximity warning to go off."

The report would be finished in October at the earliest.