The Somalian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched an investigation into a harrowing near collision incident between an Ethiopian Airlines A350 and a Qatar Airways 787 over the Gulf of Aden. The incident occurred after air traffic controllers mistakenly instructed one of the aircraft to climb to 40,000 feet, bringing the planes dangerously close to each other, according to reports.
In a statement released by the authority, it was revealed that the Qatar Airways flight (Qatar 6U) was en route from the Valley to Entebbe Uganda, maintaining a constant altitude of 38,000 feet when, at approximately 12:32 pm East Africa time, controllers in Mogadishu directed the aircraft to ascend to 40,000 feet. Concurrently, an Ethiopian Airlines flight (Ethiopia 602) was on its route from Addis Ababa to Dubai.
The erroneous instructions reportedly placed the two flights on a collision course according to reports, prompting concern among aviation authorities. Fortunately, the Traffic Avoidance Collision System (TCAS) equipped on both aircraft played a pivotal role in averting a potentially catastrophic situation. The TCAS issued an urgent warning, alerting the pilots to the presence of the other plane, prompting immediate corrective action.
“The planes were at a dangerous distance from each other, but the equipment attached to the two planes was saved,” stated the Somalian CAA in their official statement. The prompt response of the TCAS, designed to prevent mid-air collisions, showcased the effectiveness of such safety systems in emergency situations.
The investigation initiated by the Somalian CAA aims to determine the root cause of the communication error between air traffic controllers and the pilots involved. Aviation experts and authorities are closely examining the incident to identify any lapses in communication protocols or procedural errors that may have led to the potentially catastrophic miscommunication.
