The BA flight had 380 passengers on board

An air traffic controller told the BA crew to "go around" to avoid the slow-moving Air Canada aircraft.

A "go around" is a procedure used by air traffic controllers or pilots when they are not satisfied with the approach.

A BA spokesman also insisted the planes were two miles apart and that none of the passengers had been in any danger.

Experts have warned of an increase in near misses in the crowded skies over south-east England.

Last week, an air traffic controller supervising a trainee was blamed after a jumbo came within 112ft of colliding with another plane at Heathrow.

The British Airways 747 had been cleared to land on the same runway that a British Midland jet, taking 89 passengers to Belgium in April last year, was using to take off.