“Get off the iPad!” warns air traffic control as Spirit flight nears Air Force One

In a tense moment this week, Air Force One, en route from the United States to the United Kingdom, came alarmingly close to a Spirit Airlines flight traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Boston. The two aircraft were separated by just eight lateral miles when an attentive air traffic controller from New York stepped in to prevent a potential disaster. The controller urgently instructed the Spirit flight to make an immediate right turn in order to steer clear of Air Force One. However, the response from the Spirit pilots was delayed, prompting the frustrated controller to issue repeated warnings. Audio recordings of the incident, available on LiveATC.net, capture the escalating urgency in his voice. "Pay attention!" he commanded after the initial instruction went unanswered. "Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right now!" After a few tense seconds, he reiterated, "Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right IMMEDIATELY!" It was only then that the pilots acknowledged the directive, but the controller made it clear that he was not pleased with the lag in their response, again urging them to stay alert. He then provided additional context for his alarming request, informing the pilots about the proximity of the larger aircraft. "Spirit 1300, traffic's off your left wing by 6, uh, 8 miles. 747. I'm sure you can see who it is... Keep an eye out for him. He's white and blue," he said, underscoring the importance of vigilance in their flight operations.