US Airways Pilot Reports Flare Shot Near Jet on Approach to Philadelphia [AUDIO]
de Havilland Dash 8 (Air Southwest Pictured)
A US Airways jet on approach to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) reported a flare in the sky that could have been shot at the plane itself on Tuesday.
US Airways Express Flight 4321 from Elmira Regional (ELM), N.Y. landed safely with 34 passengers aboard but according to audio between the tower and the pilot (see below) the flare could have been as close as 50 feet from the de Havilland turboprop.
‘“You said was there a flare being shot up … at you?” the controller asked.
“Yeah, it probably wasn’t more than 50 feet off our right wing,” came the reply.’
Philadelphia police said they received a 911 call informing them that someone had fired a flare gun near the airport. A search did not turn up any suspects.
Officials closed the airport for about 30 minutes while they searched the airport.
US Airways Flare Incident Audio
Audio: LiveATC.net
Category: Airnation
