The picture illustrates the positions of the two planes when the incident takes place at the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. [Photo: agencies]

China's aviation regulator has blamed air traffic controllers for a near collision of two passenger jets in Shanghai after a preliminary investigation.

According to the investigation, an Airbus A320 jet was taking off from a runway on Tuesday, as an Airbus A330 cut across his path at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

The Captain of the A320 had been cleared for take-off by air traffic control, but he quickly discovered another plane was using the same runway.

The captain then decided to continue with the take-off.

Investigation shows the pilot barely managed to evade the crash, and his plane was just 19 meters above the taxiing aircraft. There were no injuries reported.

China's civil aviation authority is inspecting the incident as both planes are owned by China Eastern Airlines.

In a circular, the authority suggests the control center should be held accountable, as well as the crew of taxiing aircraft A320, for failing to stop when the captain saw the other plane take-off, and failing to report to the controller.

The incident was classified as a runway incursion.