Controller scolds Spirit Airlines pilot to ‘pay attention’ to radio calls as Air Force One flies 8 miles away
By Alexandra Skores, CNN
Washington (CNN) — A Spirit Airlines pilot was scolded by air traffic control on Tuesday after not immediately responding to a controller’s instructions as Air Force One flew about 8 miles away.
The two aircraft were flying parallel over Long Island. Air Force One was flying President Donald Trump to the United Kingdom and Spirit Flight 1300 was flying passengers from Fort Lauderdale to Boston Logan International Airport.
“Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right,” the New York Center air traffic controller told the pilot, according to audio captured by LiveATC.net
After five seconds of no response the controller radios again.
“Pay attention, Spirit 1300. Turn 20 degrees right,” he says.
It takes two more attempts to reach the pilot before he responds acknowledging the right turn.
“Spirit 1300 turn 20 degrees right now,” the controller says. “Spirit wings, 1300 turn 20 degrees right immediately.”
Spirit Airlines told CNN in a statement the pilots “followed procedures and Air Traffic Control instructions while en route to Boston… Safety is always our top priority.”
It’s not clear why the pilot didn’t immediately respond, however pilots are trained to make their first priority to fly the airplane before communicating.
“Spirit 1300, traffic is off of your left wing by eight miles. 747. I’m sure you can see who it is,” the controller says. “Keep an eye out for him, he’s white and blue.”
Later after the Spirit pilot did not respond to another radio instruction the controller radioed again.
“I got to talk to you twice every time,” he says. “Pay attention, get off of the iPad.”
The encounter between the two aircraft was first spotted by the account JonNYC on BlueSky.
The Federal Aviation Administration did not respond to CNN’s request for comment on this incident.
CNN’s Pete Muntean, Karina Tsui and Justin Lear contributed to this report.
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