A routine flight over Jekyll Island, Georgia, turned into a dramatic moment for wildlife photographer Mike Griffin, who captured images that seemed to show two commercial jets nearly colliding at 30,000 feet.
The shocking photographs quickly drew attention online and raised questions about air safety.
Close Encounter Caught on Camera
Griffin, who was taking nature photos on August 25, said he was stunned by how near the two planes appeared in the sky.
“It looked like they were careening straight toward each other,” he recalled, snapping photos as quickly as possible to document the moment.
An Optical Illusion?
While the images look alarming, flight records indicate the jets were actually following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety rules.
The Southwest Airlines flight was cruising at 33,000 feet, and the Spirit Airways plane was at 35,000 feet—well outside the FAA’s minimum 1,000-foot vertical separation requirement.
In other words, what looked like a dangerous near-miss from the ground was, in reality, a safe distance apart.
Aviation Safety Under Scrutiny
Despite the planes being within legal limits, the images add to growing concerns about airline safety amid a string of recent incidents.
Just weeks before this sighting, a Southwest pilot had to take sudden evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision.
On July 25, Southwest Flight 1496, traveling from Burbank, California, to Las Vegas, had to drop 475 feet in seconds to avoid a Hawker Hunter military fighter aircraft.
Passengers, including comedian Jimmy Dore, described the terrifying plunge as people were thrown from their seats.
Two flight attendants were injured, but the plane safely completed its journey.
Past Disasters Highlight Risks
The U.S. aviation industry has faced serious scrutiny this year. In January, an American Airlines jet collided with a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter near Reagan International Airport in Washington D.C., killing all 67 people aboard.
The incident prompted an intense investigation into how such a disaster could happen.
Faulty Equipment Identified
This month, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded its investigation, finding that the helicopter’s altitude readings were faulty due to engineering problems.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy emphasized the danger, explaining that what the crew thought they saw may have been very different from reality.
Public and Industry Response
While experts stress that commercial aviation remains one of the safest forms of travel, these incidents—and images like those captured by Griffin—highlight the importance of continued vigilance and strict adherence to safety protocols.
