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FAA investigating whether model rocket passed jet
By Ana Ley
Associated Press
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HOUSTON -- The FBI and federal aviation officials are investigating whether a model rocket with a flaming tail shot past a cockpit window of a Continental jet that had just taken off from Houston's airport with 148 passengers on board.

``We know that there was a sighting of an object,'' FAA spokesman Roland Herwig said. ``But we don't yet know if it was a model rocket.''

The jet had just taken off on May 26 and was flying at 4,750 feet when the rocket was reported, records show. Flight 1544 continued to Cleveland after reporting the object to air traffic controllers. Officials have said passengers were not in danger and that the plane landed safely.

According to the FAA records, a dispatcher asked another pilot if he saw a ``rocket launch'' about ``three to four miles out.'' At the speed the Continental plane was flying, the aircraft was only about a minute away from a collision if the plane and object were four miles apart.

Model rockets are equipped with parachutes and other devices to bring them safely to the ground for reuse. They can be made of anything from cardboard to aluminum.

An investigation begun by the FAA and FBI has been slowed because the radar at George Bush Intercontinental Airport was unable to detect the object. The FAA said it would usually not pick up a small object on radar designed to track large planes.

FBI spokeswoman Shauna Dunlap said the bureau cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.

Continental Airlines spokeswoman Kelly Cripe declined to comment Monday.

FAA officials have said model rockets have crossed paths with planes before but have never struck them.

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Reader comments on this story - 5 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

cats55ire wrote on Jul 7, 2008 9:21 PM:

" to MRS. - you got that right!!!!

I flight quite a bit lately and this would make me mad AND scared!

Let's find out about this and do something about it, OK??!!!!! "

protohooman wrote on Jul 7, 2008 8:49 PM:

" No it was Hillary on her broom, going back to Washington. "

middle of the road wrote on Jul 7, 2008 6:21 PM:

" LOL yes it would seem so NsP . There are a few people with the proper lic. that can launch rockets that are capable of those heights. But I can not imagine that they would risk launching that close to an airport.
probably some moron that thinks they are too dangerous and is trying to get them banned also. "

MRS. wrote on Jul 7, 2008 5:52 PM:

" So the plane was about a minite away from collision but the passengers were not in danger??? Who do they think they are kidding? "

Not so Political wrote on Jul 7, 2008 4:32 PM:

" Not many of these model rocket will fly 4700 feet in the air !! "
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