Five Hurt as Jet Dives to Miss Second Plane

ST. LOUIS —  A Trans World Airlines jet with 151 people aboard had to dive suddenly to avoid another plane directly in its path at 37,000 feet, and five passengers were injured, an airline spokesman said Tuesday.

Air traffic controllers in Chicago apparently steered the plane onto the collision course, TWA spokesman Don Morrison said.

The pilot of the Boeing 767 was forced to take the evasive action about 40 minutes into the Paris-bound flight, Morrison said. The plane returned to St. Louis.

Morrison said five people suffered minor injuries when they were tossed about in the cabin. They were taken to hospitals after the plane returned to St. Louis.