Passengers escape crash on Shannon to JFK flight

Around 170 passengers travelling from Ireland to New York escaped injury yesterday when the plane they were travelling in almost crashed with another aircraft.

The Delta Flight 123 from Shannon Airport to JFK came within half a mile of crashing with a regional jet when the pilot aborted his landing in heavy congestion.

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration the Boeing 757 came within 600 vertical feet and a half-mile horizontally of the other jet.

It is the second such incident at JFK in a week forcing the FAA to change their takeoff and landing procedures.