Introduction
A near collision occurred between Pan Am Flight 217 and American Flight 902 over the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 200 miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The incident took place in a non-radar environment.
Sequence of Events
Pan Am Flight 217, an Airbus A300 registered as N209PA, was cleared by New York Center Oceanic Control Area (OCA) to proceed south on Airway Amber 300 at flight level 290. While en route, American Flight 902 departed San Juan (SJU), Puerto Rico, for a northbound flight on the same airway under IFR control by San Juan Combined Center and Radar Approach Control (CERAP). On-the-job training was being given to the CERAP controller.
As the controller's workload became busy with a heavy rush hour, the supervisor scanned the bay to determine traffic but did not see the flight progress strip for Flight 217. The supervisor then instructed the trainee to assign Flight 902 to FL 290. The trainee coordinated this with OCA, noting it was the wrong direction for that altitude. OCA approved, and Flight 902 was assigned FL 290.
Subsequently, the two aircraft converged and passed each other with an estimated 300 feet of lateral separation. The OCA controller later stated she was aware both flights would be at the same altitude, but approval was based on the premise that San Juan was aware and would provide other separation.