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Video shows Boeing 777 making very low pass over Texas airfield

From CBS News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The FAA is investigating a Boeing 777 that performed an extremely low pass over a Texas airfield on Wednesday.
  • Flight tracking data indicated the aircraft was no more than 25 feet above the ground during the maneuver.
  • The plane's owner, Jetran, stated it was a pre-delivery test flight for Qatar Airways Cargo, though it was not owned or operated by the airline.

Federal aviation authorities are investigating a Boeing 777 after it executed an unusually low pass over the Horseshoe Bay Resort Jet Center airport in Central Texas this week. Video footage captured the aircraft flying perilously close to the ground, with flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 showing it was no more than 25 feet above the surface during the maneuver on Wednesday.

We are turning final runway 17 for a low approach, 5DN heavy.

— PilotAudio from LiveATC.net indicating the pilots alerted air traffic control about the planned low approach.

Audio recordings from LiveATC.net indicate pilots had alerted the air traffic control tower about the planned low approach. The aircraft, identified as a 777 heavy, was reportedly on a final approach for runway 17. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed it is looking into the incident.

While the aircraft is painted in Qatar Airways livery, it was not owned or operated by Qatar Airways, did not carry a Qatar Airways registration, and the pilots on board were not Qatar Airways pilots.

— JetranStatement from the aircraft's owner explaining the context of the flight.

Jetran, the company that owns the aircraft and is based in Horseshoe Bay, issued a statement clarifying the plane's purpose. They explained the flight was a final pre-delivery test flight before the aircraft entered the Qatar Airways Cargo fleet. Jetran emphasized that while the plane bore Qatar Airways livery, it was not owned or operated by the airline, nor were the pilots employed by Qatar Airways. The company stated, "We expect the relevant parties and authorities to investigate this matter thoroughly and take appropriate action."

We expect the relevant parties and authorities to investigate this matter thoroughly and take appropriate action.

— JetranStatement from the aircraft's owner regarding the investigation into the low pass.

Former National Transportation Safety Board Chair Robert Sumwalt commented on the incident, calling it "another example of stupid pilot tricks." He told CBS News that pilots could face suspension of their credentials over such actions. "I see no legitimate reason at all to perform this maneuver the way that it was done," Sumwalt said. "They clearly had planned it, they had an audience standing by to watch it and to video it, so there's no real reason why they should have been doing this."

another example of stupid pilot tricks.

— Robert SumwaltFormer National Transportation Safety Board Chair, commenting on the dangerous maneuver.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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