Departed MEL one day on a 34 Dosel with Ansett on a 27 Narel. Just as we levelled at 5000' and turned for Dosel, they were 1000' above turning onto downwind. End result, two aircraft with 1000' vertical seperation that looked for all intents and purposes to be wing tip to wing tip. We too were levelling off so they would have got that 'sinking' feeling in the pits of the stomachs, (
) and it did look 'close'.
Whilst it may be something, it may not be anything more than a case of a passenger greatly over reacting. Wouldn't be the first, won't be the last!
The media are morons.