An Alaska Airlines Embraer E175 faced a near-miss incident while landing in Redmond, Oregon. The aircraft, operated by Horizon Air, had to abort its landing due to an unexpected close encounter with an aerial firefighting tanker.

On October 9, the Embraer E175, flight QX2083 from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, was approaching Redmond Municipal Airport. Suddenly, a BAe 146 air tanker flew below the E175. This tanker was conducting firefighting operations in response to ongoing wildfires in Central Oregon.

As the E175 neared the runway, its pilots spotted the approaching tanker and quickly decided to pull up. They safely executed a go-around maneuver instead of landing. Data indicates that just two minutes before the incident, the aircraft was only 275 feet away from the BAe 146, which was flying southwest at 3,850 feet.

The Embraer climbed to 9,900 feet during the go-around before safely landing at 13:12. The pilot later confirmed the need for this intervention, highlighting the risks posed by crowded airspace.

Redmond’s airspace is typically busy with commercial flights, general aviation, and firefighting aircraft. This situation raises concerns about air traffic control staffing and the complexities of managing multiple aircraft types. A mix of commercial operations and firefighting missions increases the potential for such close calls.

The BAe 146 tanker, registered as N473NA, had just taken off for what appeared to be a training flight. It climbed to 9,400 feet after the near miss and returned safely to Redmond.

While the tanker did not directly respond to any active wildfires during the incident, several blazes still burn across Central Oregon, including the Little Lava Fire near Bend. This fire has been ongoing for over a month and has consumed nearly 14,900 acres, drawing significant firefighting resources.

Overall, this incident underscores the importance of vigilance in busy airspaces and the need for robust air traffic control measures. It serves as a reminder of the potential hazards pilots face when navigating crowded skies.

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