Passenger jets' near-miss over Belgrade

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Two passenger jets nearly collided over Belgrade this week, Serbian air traffic authorities say.

The Directorate for Civil Aviation said an Air France Airbus A318 and an Israeli El-Al Boeing 777 missed each other on Monday after the French airliner stopped its descent under orders from Serbian air controllers.

The statement said an investigation has shown that the French jet was on an unauthorised flight course. It said the French jet was instructed to fly at 10,650 metres but was 91 metres further down toward the Israeli jet, which was flying at 10,346 metres.

Air France was not immediately available for comment. despite numerous phone calls.

In Israel, El-Al spokesman Ran Rahav confirmed that flight 007 from Tel Aviv to New York carrying 120 passengers, lowered its altitude over Belgrade on Monday to avoid an Air France aircraft, which, he said, had been given mistaken instructions by an air traffic controller.

"At no time was there a danger to the passengers, the crew or the plane," Rahav said in a statement.

The Airbus was on its way from Paris to Sofia, Bulgaria.

- AP