MUMBAI- A near-collision incident involving two Boeing 777 aircraft occurred on March 24 over the Arabian Sea, as revealed by a recent preliminary probe report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
The El Al Airlines (LY) flight from Tel Aviv (TLV) to Bangkok (BKK) and the Qatar Airways (QR) flight from Doha (DOH) to Male (MLE) came within one minute of collision at 35,000 feet, breaching the standard 10-minute separation protocol for the route.
EL AL Qatar Airways Near Collision
The AAIB report disclosed that the minimum separation between the aircraft narrowed to just 9.1 nautical miles at waypoint ‘GOLEM’ in the Mumbai flight information region. This dangerous proximity occurred at 7:36 a.m. Indian Standard Time is raising serious safety concerns.
Alarmingly, no cockpit alerts were generated by the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) to warn the pilots of the impending collision threat. The air traffic control (ATC) also failed to issue any alerts.
The investigation has yet to determine whether this lack of warning resulted from insufficient proximity to trigger the TCAS or if other factors contributed to the system’s failure.
In response to this serious safety breach, authorities have taken action. At least two air traffic controllers on duty during the incident have been suspended and ordered to undergo corrective training. This measure underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for improved vigilance in air traffic management.
AAIB chief G.V.G. Yugandhar told the Hindu that a final report will be published in due course, which is expected to provide more detailed insights into the causes of this near-miss event.
Expert Remarks
A recent near-collision incident between two Boeing 777 aircraft over the Arabian Sea has sparked discussion among aviation experts.
Captain A. (Mohan) Ranganathan, a former airline instructor pilot and aviation safety adviser, explained that the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) did not generate alerts because the aircraft was not within the system’s triggering range. TCAS typically activates when aircraft separation narrows to 20-45 seconds.
The pilots likely maintained awareness of each other’s positions through their cockpit primary flight displays, which receive data from Mode S transponders. Good visibility conditions might have allowed visual contact between the aircraft.
Ranganathan emphasized the importance of knowing the aircraft speeds, a detail omitted from the preliminary report, to fully understand the incident.
The expert noted that the 10-minute separation criteria suggest this was not a pilot error, shifting focus to the actions of air traffic controllers before the ‘GOLEM’ waypoint.
Another aviation specialist clarified that TCAS typically issues traffic advisories when aircraft are 40-50 seconds apart, with resolution advisories triggering about 35 seconds from collision. In this case, the one-minute separation, equating to 9-10 miles, likely precluded a collision course and TCAS activation.
A Boeing 777 pilot added that TCAS usually activates within a range of approximately six nautical miles. This incident, where separation was reduced to 9.1 nautical miles, fell outside this typical activation threshold.
Similar Incidents
A critical near-miss incident occurred at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) on November 10, 2023, involving American Airlines (AA) flight AAL28 and Tradewind Aviation flight GPD235.
American Airlines Airbus A321, arriving from Los Angeles, received clearance for runway 22 left. Simultaneously, Tradewind Aviation’s Pilatus PC-12 was directed to runway 22 right. However, the Tradewind flight unexpectedly joined the 22-left localizer, creating a dangerous convergence.
The American Airlines pilot alerted air traffic control to the Tradewind aircraft’s proximity, stating, “He is right above us.” Despite reassurances from the controller that the other plane was landing on a parallel runway, the American pilot reported continued proximity and communication issues.
Similarly, a United Airlines (UA) flight experienced a safety incident on September 19, 2024, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Flight UA2428, en route from Newark to San Francisco, executed a sudden maneuver near Lake Berryessa, resulting in injuries to two passengers.
The flight crew initiated a rapid descent slowdown in response to a Traffic Collision Avoidance System Resolution Advisory (TCAS RA). This system detected another aircraft at a lower altitude, signaling an imminent collision risk. FlightRadar24 data located the incident 70 miles north of San Francisco at 31,000 feet altitude.
Two other flights were identified in the vicinity: a Southwest Airlines flight 3,000 feet below and a SkyWest flight 1,000 feet below the United aircraft. Despite the proximity, the FAA maintains that safe separation between the aircraft was not compromised.
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