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A Spirit Airlines pilot was scolded by US air traffic control after not immediately responding to a controller’s instructions as Air Force One flew about 16 kilometres away.
The two aircraft were flying parallel over Long Island in the north-east US on Tuesday.
Air Force One was flying President Donald Trump to the UK and Spirit Flight 1300 was flying passengers from Fort Lauderdale to Boston Logan International Airport.
“Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right,” the New York Centre 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 aircraft 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.”
Pilots often use tablet devices as an “electronic flight bag” in the cockpit to display information including maps, calculations, terminal procedures and more.
The encounter between the two aircraft was first spotted by the online account JonNYC on BlueSky.
The US Federal Aviation Administration noted in a statement it was “aware of social media posts about Air Force One and a Spirit Airlines flight in Boston airspace,” but it said the aircraft stayed the required distance apart.
