A FLIGHT heading to Prestwick Airport had a near miss situation with another flight while flying over Madrid.

The Ryanair Boeing 737-800 flight from Malaga to Prestwick came within 400 feet of another plane operated by Tunisian airline Nouvelair, sending Spanish air traffic controllers to sound the alarm over the "dangerously close" incident.

International air safety standards require planes to maintain at least 2,000 feet of vertical space between one another when cruising at altitudes of more than 29,000 feet.

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A total of five aircraft were involved in the "conflict", reported by the Aviation Herald, with both flights being instructed by air traffic controllers to turn and descend, bringing them close to three other planes.

All five aircraft continued to their destinations and landed without further incidents.

RyanAir have been contacted for a comment.