A file image of Air Force One

May 15, 1999
Web posted at: 11:50 p.m. EDT (0350 GMT)

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Air Force One and a commuter plane came close to one another while flying over California on Saturday.

The incident occurred as President Clinton was flying from Palo Alto to Los Angeles. As Air Force One headed into Los Angeles, it descended to 10,000 feet, nearing a commuter plane which was climbing to nine thousand feet.

The pilot of Air Force one took a hard left turn and went up an additional 400 feet, officials said.

On-board instruments detected the other plane close by. Air Force One is equipped with the Traffic Collision Avoidance System known as TCAS.

White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart said the incident did not constitute a near miss, and a proper distance was kept between the two planes at all times.

The president landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport at about 7:05 p.m. PT.