NTSB -- NTSB OPENING INVESTIGATION INTO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL INCIDENT INVOLVING AIRCRAFT CARRYING MICHELLE OBAMA

************************************************************

NTSB ADVISORY

************************************************************

National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

April 20, 2011

************************************************************

NTSB OPENING INVESTIGATION INTO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL INCIDENT

INVOLVING AIRCRAFT CARRYING MICHELLE OBAMA

************************************************************

The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an

investigation into an air traffic control incident on Monday

in which the airplane carrying First Lady Michelle Obama

aborted a landing attempt at Andrews Air Force Base after an

air traffic controller had sequenced it too close to another

military plane.

At about 5 pm ET on April 18, the military version of a B-

737 that Mrs. Obama was traveling in was directed to abort

its landing attempt after the required minimum separation

between it and a C-17 military aircraft that was landing

ahead of it was compromised.

The incident involved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

air traffic controllers at the Potomac TRACON facility in

Virginia and at the Andrews tower in Maryland.

NTSB Air Traffic Control specialist Dan Bartlett is the

investigator-in-charge. Parties to the investigation

are the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers union.

###

NTSB Media Contact: Peter Knudson

peter.knudson@xxxxxxxx

202-314-6100

************************************************************

This message is delivered to you as a free service from the

National Transportation Safety Board.

You may unsubscribe at any time at

http://www.ntsb.gov/registration/registration.htm

An archive of press releases is available at

http://www.ntsb.gov/pressrel/pressrel.htm

Current job opportunities with the NTSB are listed at

http://www.ntsb.gov/vacancies/listing.htm

For questions/problems, contact pubinq@xxxxxxxx