A catastrophic aviation accident was narrowly avoided at Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport when aircraft from EasyJet and Nouvelair came dangerously close to colliding.
An EasyJet aircraft preparing to take off for Nantes (flight U24706) on Sunday evening, September 21 nearly collided with a Nouvelair aircraft (flight BJ586) that was approaching to land on runway 04R from Tunis, creating one of the most serious runway incursion incidents in recent French aviation history.
Three Meters From Disaster
The incident unfolded with terrifying precision as the EasyJet A320 (registration OE-IJZ) was aligned on the runway 04R for takeoff when the incoming Nouvelair A320 (registration TS-INP) flew directly overhead at an altitude of only “three meters above” the departing plane according to reports. The proximity was so close that passengers aboard both aircraft experienced severe turbulence from the wake of the other plane.
The dramatic near-miss occurred as both aircraft were operating on what should have been separate flight paths, with the EasyJet flight executing its takeoff roll while the Nouvelair flight was on final approach to what could be the wrong runway.
Emergency Response and Flight Cancellation
The EasyJet flight immediately aborted its takeoff as the Nouvelair aircraft passed overhead. The incoming Nouvelair flight was diverted to runway 04L, landing safely 12 minutes later after the heart-stopping encounter that could have resulted in one of aviation’s worst disasters.
In a state of shock following the near-collision, the EasyJet pilot refused to attempt another takeoff, and flight U24706 to Nantes was subsequently cancelled. The aircraft taxied back to its parking position at Terminal 2 around 23:45.
Weather Conditions Under Investigation
According to preliminary findings, rain appears to have played a major role in this serious incident. Poor weather conditions at Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport may have contributed to visibility issues or navigation errors that led to the dangerous runway conflict. Thunderstorms were reported with ceiling at 6,300 feet with visibility lower than 9km.
BEA Deploys Investigation Team
The investigation will examine whether the error originated from air traffic control instructions, pilot navigation mistakes, or communication failures between the control tower and the approaching Nouvelair aircraft. It will have to determine precisely the circumstances of the incident and to establish why the Nouvelair flight was approaching runway 04R instead of the possible assigned runway 04L.
The Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) is sending a team of four investigators to the scene, underscoring the severity of the incident. The deployment of a full investigation team indicates that this near-miss is being treated as a serious aviation safety event.
