RAF planes in 30ft near-miss
The Tucano (circled) came within 30ft of the Tornado
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Monday, 16, Feb 2009 12:47
Footage showing an incredible near-miss between two RAF planes 250ft above Britain has emerged.
Posted on YouTube, the film shows an RAF Tornado travelling at 500mph banking at the last-minute to avoid a midair collision with a smaller Tucano plane.
After swearing several times the pilot scans around before locating the Tucano. "Let's have a look. OK, he's in one piece, good," he is heard to say.
If not for the pilot's reactions he and his navigator and the two people in the Tucano would certainly have died in any collision, while debris would have been scattered across the Vale of York.
Both planes were reportedly on training exercises, according to the Sun newspaper.
A source told the tabloid: "I can't recall ever seeing a closer near-miss. The smallest possible fraction of a second made all the difference."