Major collision between international flights averted at Mumbai

An Air France flight AF-253 from Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) to Paris and an Etihad Airways flight EY-290 from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu were passing through Mumbai airspace due to Pakistani airspace closure

A mid-air collision between two international flights was averted at Mumbai air space following the activation of traffic collision avoidance systems (TCAS). An official from the Airport Authority of India said the incident was a result of the closure of Pakistan's airspace from February 27.

"After the closure of Pakistan airspace, we are facing heavy scheduled and unscheduled flight in Indian airspace. Our ATC officials are capable to handle the situation but it was unfortunate that the incident happened. On Friday, a near miss averted at Mumbai airspace," the AAI spokesperson told ANI.

An Air France flight AF-253 from Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) to Paris and an Etihad Airways flight EY-290 from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu were passing through Mumbai airspace due to Pakistani airspace closure. According to the airport authorities, the Air France aircraft was flying at 32,000 feet while the Etihad flight was flying at the height of 31,000 feet.

The TCAS was activated and alerted authorities of a possible collision. Immediately, an ATC officer informed the Etihad flight's pilot to climb 33,000 feet to avoid the collision.

Last week, Pakistan had extended the general closure of its airspace, making it the seventh time in a row. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the matter.

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