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FAA investigating after Southwest plane flies close to LaGuardia tower

The safety agency said the aircraft went off course amid bad weather as it was approaching the airport for a landing.
FAA investigating after Southwest plane flies close to LaGuardia tower
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Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed to Scripps News that they are investigating a concerning incident that happened last month when a Southwest-operated aircraft went off course during a landing attempt at New York's LaGuardia Airport in inclement weather.

The FAA said an air traffic controller instructed the crew of the Southwest Airlines operated flight 147 to "perform a go-around," as it was having trouble landing in the bad weather at around 1 p.m. on March 23. 

SEE MORE: United Airlines is asking pilots to take time off in May

Flightradar24.com data showed the plane flew as low as 300 feet, The Associated Press reported. 

An air traffic controller was heard on audio recordings speaking in a concerned tone telling pilots to climb back to 2,000 feet, LiveATC.net recorded. 

"He was not going to land on the runway," a controller was heard saying in audio recordings. The flight was diverted to Baltimore where the aircraft landed safely. 

The FAA said in a statement that the agency is "investigating and will determine if the aircraft flew over the tower at LaGuardia."


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