Investigators: Planes Nearly Collided Near Newark

A preliminary federal report says two planes nearly collided over Newark Liberty Airport last month.

The National Transportation Safety Board report classifies it as a near midair collision.

The report estimates that a landing Boeing 737 operated by United Airlines was about 200 feet laterally from a Memphis-bound ExpressJet flight that was taking off on an intersecting runway. The planes were about 400 feet apart vertically.

The ExpressJet pilot can be heard on radio telling air traffic controllers he was keeping the plane's nose down as he climbed. The United flight from San Francisco was ordered to abort its landing.

The United flight was carrying 155 passengers and six crew. The ExpressJet flight was carrying three crew and 47 passengers.

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