Pilot mistook Venus for plane

A dozing pilot sent his jet into an emergency dive when he woke and mistook the planet Venus for an approaching plane, a report has revealed.

Wed, 18 Apr, 2012 - 01:00

Seth Borenstein

The manoeuvre caused 16 injuries among passengers and crew on the transatlantic flight.

The US Transportation Safety Board described the 46 seconds in which the plane dived and lurched back up during an overnight Air Canada flight from Toronto to Zurich in Jan 2011. Those hurt were not wearing seatbelts.

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Courts Place: Venus Place: Toronto Place: Zurich Person: Jon Lee Organisation: US Transportation Safety Board Organisation: Air Canada Organisation: US Air Force Organisation: US military

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