AAIB calls for tighter ATC procedures after near miss

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has recommended tighter air traffic control procedures and improved staffing after a serious airprox incident between two aircraft over the Mumbai Flight Information Region (FIR) earlier this year.

- Neha LM Tripathi

The recommendations comes months after the May 4 airprox incident involving Air Arabia flight ABY405 from Sharjah to Mumbai and AeroLogic flight BOX622 from Frankfurt to Mumbai, with both aircraft entering Indian airspace at the same altitude of 35,000 feet with a three minute gap, instead of the mandatory 10-minute separation. Both aircraft were also flying on the same route (near waypoint PARAR) along the Muscat-Mumbai boundary.

‘An airprox is a situation where two aircraft come dangerously close to each other, leading to a potential risk of collision.