Close call over Arabian Sea: Qatar Airways, EL AL planes come within 1 minute of each other

The AAIB has released a preliminary study with details of the incidental and the probe process. The last probe study is apt to beryllium released wrong a mates of months, per sources successful the know.

Airprox is simply a concern successful which the region betwixt craft arsenic good arsenic their comparative positions and velocity person been specified that the information of the craft progressive whitethorn person been compromised. It is not wide yet whether the craft progressive successful this incidental were connected a collision course. Airprox incidents are classified into 3 categories—serious hazard of collision, information of the craft whitethorn person been compromised, and nary hazard of collision.

Although some the craft were not headed to oregon from India, the AAIB is conducting the probe arsenic the country wherever the incidental occurred falls nether the Mumbai Flight Information Regions (FIR) wherever aerial postulation services are managed by the Mumbai aerial postulation power (ATC). While the probe is underway, 2 aerial postulation controllers connected work astatine the clip of the incidental were off-rostered arsenic per the protocol successful specified cases and sent for corrective training, per sources.

EL AL’s Boieng 777-200 craft was operating a scheduled formation from Israel to Thailand’s superior Bangkok, portion the Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER craft was operating a formation from Doha to Male successful the Maldives.

“Both craft were connected their designated formation way and were astatine the aforesaid formation level F350 (35,000 feet). ELY081 (EL AL flight) was pursuing Airway L875 and QTR8E (Qatar Airways flight) was pursuing Airway L894. The airway L875 and L894 intersect each different astatine a Waypoint ‘GOLEM’ successful Mumbai FIR. The breach of modular separation took spot betwixt the aircraft, astatine waypoint ‘GOLEM’ successful Mumbai FIR. NO TA/RA alert (alerts generated by Traffic Collision Avoidance System, oregon TCAS) was generated successful aircraft,” the AAIB noted successful a preliminary study connected the incident.

According to experts, the TCAS alerts are sounded lone erstwhile 2 craft travel successful adjacent proximity and determination is simply a menace of collision. The information that the alerts were not generated successful either craft cockpit could perchance mean that portion the planes did travel excessively adjacent for comfort, determination was nary hazard of collision, a root said, but added that details volition lone beryllium wide erstwhile the last probe study is out.

The AAIB probe squad has visited the Oceanic Control Centre, South Subsector—which handles aerial postulation successful Mumbai FIR—to measure the concern and to cod evidence. ATC tapes and recordings of the automation strategy person been examined, and archetypal statements of assorted officials person been recorded.

“Based connected the statements, archetypal signifier of interviews of 3 progressive ATCOs (air postulation power officers) person been conducted. One of the acrophobic trainee’s connection was besides recorded by the Investigation team. Another of the acrophobic trainee’s connection has been recorded by the Investigation squad astatine Delhi,” the preliminary study said connected the advancement of the investigation.

The AAIB has besides received documents and information for the 2 flights from some the airlines, and these are being analysed arsenic portion of the probe.