Jet incident - Near-miss must not be glossed over

THE Government must take whatever steps are deemed necessary to ensure the cause of a near-miss between an Aer Arann aircraft and a British military jet comes to light.

This incident, in which passengers had a truly terrifying experience after take-off from Edinburgh airport, will revive grim memories of the Tuskar Rock disaster in 1968 when 61 lives were lost as an Aer Lingus plane mysteriously crashed, sparking claims it was hit by a British missile.

Thanks to the professionalism and swift action of the Aer Arann crew, a possible disaster was averted as the jet flew across their path.

There is reason to believe this incident could be glossed over, especially in view of an official statement implying it was merely a manoeuvre to maintain normal distance between the aircraft. But that hardly explains the sudden dive undertaken by the Aer Arann pilot.

Plainly, the British explanation is unsatisfactory. It smacks of a pre-emptive bid to influence the outcome of an inquiry into the incident.

In the interests of safety, the authorities must ensure this incident is not swept under the carpet.