A TAP Air Portugal jetliner dived sharply to avoid an air collision with a smaller aircraft near the Azores Islands on Friday, injuring 23 passengers and two crew, the company said.
The Airbus A310, carrying 131 passengers and eight crew from Lisbon, was on its approach to the mid-Atlantic islands when a cockpit alarm and the local air-traffic-control tower warned the pilot of an imminent collision with a twin-engine Beechcraft crossing its path, officials said.
The jetliner went into a steep descent and those on board who were not wearing seat belts were thrown against the plane’s ceiling. None of the injuries was said to be serious.
The Beechcraft, which belongs to private Portuguese airline Omni, was flying to Cascais, near Lisbon, officials said. Officials did not know the model of the Beechcraft nor could they say how many people were on board and whether there were any injuries.
The TAP Air Portugal plane landed safely and some of those hurt were taken to hospital, the flag-carrier said in a statement. The Beechcraft continued its flight.
Authorities said they are opening an official investigation into the incident.
The Azores Islands are about 1 500km west of Portugal. — Sapa-AP