Flight data: Spirit jet ordered to alter course from Air Force One over Long Island

Air traffic controllers ordered the crew of a Boston-bound Spirit Airlines flight to alter course "immediately" after their jet got too close to Air Force One in the skies over Long Island late Tuesday morning.

Air Force One, carrying President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump to a state visit to the United Kingdom, was at 32,000 feet over the North Shore when Spirit Flight 1300, somewhere over the Massapequa area at 32,000 feet, came into conflict, according to data from online flight tracking services.

"Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right," an air traffic controller says on the recording in an urgent alert to the Spirit flight, en route from Fort Lauderdale.

In the recording obtained from LiveATC.net, the controller can then be heard admonishing the Spirit Airlines crew: "Pay attention, Spirit 1300 turn 20 degrees right. Spirit 1300 turn 20 degrees right, now! Spirit Wings 1300 turn 20 degrees right, immediately!"

Monitoring services reported Air Force One, the famed white-and-blue Boeing 747, and the yellow Spirit Airlines Airbus A321 were on potentially converging paths about 11 miles apart at the time.

The recording indicates that once the Spirit crew finally acknowledged the air traffic controller's demands, the controller radioed back: "Pay attention! Spirit 1300 traffic off your left wing by six miles, eight miles, 747 ... I'm sure you can see who it is ... Keep an eye out for him. He's white and blue."

The White House did not immediately respond to an email Wednesday seeking comment.

Air Force One landed safely at London Stansted on Tuesday about 9 p.m. local time.

Tracking records show the Spirit flight departed Fort Lauderdale at 7:57 a.m. and landed at Boston Logan International at 11:07 a.m.

As the air traffic controller handed the Spirit flight off to the controllers at Boston Center, he radioed the airline crew with instructions for that radio frequency, 134.0, adding: "Spirit 1300, Boston Center, One Three Four Point Zero."

Then, the obviously exasperated controller added: "I got to talk to you twice every time ... Spirit 1300, Boston Center, One Three Four Point Zero ... Pay attention! Get off the iPad!"

In an emailed statement to Newsday on Wednesday, Spirit did not make any reference to Air Force One but said: "Spirit Airlines flight 1300 (FLL-BOS) followed procedures and Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions while en route to Boston (BOS) and landed uneventfully at BOS. ... Safety is always our top priority."