737 avoided collision ‘at last minute’ after control error

 A Boeing 737 passenger plane nearly crashed over Cambridge after failings by air traffic controllers, an investigation has found.

The aircraft only avoided a mid-air collision with an unknown aircraft “at the last minute”.

Air Traffic Control (ATC) had “severely compromised” the Boeing’s safety by not providing a radar service or telling the pilot it was unavailable before the incident above Cambridge on July 29, the report said. The UK Airprox Board (UAB) report told how the 737 left Cambridge Airport and was flying at 2,500ft when the second aircraft was spotted.

The pilot of the 737 believed the risk of collision had been “high” after the two aircraft banked in opposite directions after realising they were “at the same level”, it said.

The other pilot could not be traced despite “extensive efforts”. The report did not state where the 737 was going nor how many passengers were on board.