Near-Collision Incident at Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport
On the evening of September 21, a potential aviation disaster was narrowly avoided at Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport when an EasyJet aircraft nearly collided with a Nouvelair flight. This incident stands out as one of the most severe runway incursions in recent French aviation history.
Three Meters From Disaster
The incident involved an EasyJet A320 (flight U24706, registration OE-IJZ) scheduled to depart for Nantes. Simultaneously, a Nouvelair A320 (flight BJ586, registration TS-INP) was on its final approach to land on runway 04R from Tunis. According to reports, the Nouvelair aircraft flew over the departing EasyJet plane at a dangerously low altitude of just three meters, causing significant turbulence for passengers.
Emergency Response and Flight Cancellation
After the near-miss, the EasyJet flight aborted takeoff as the Nouvelair aircraft bypassed overhead. The Nouvelair flight was redirected to runway 04L, safely landing 12 minutes later. Following this intense incident, the EasyJet pilot declined to attempt another takeoff, leading to the cancellation of flight U24706. The aircraft then returned to its position at Terminal 2 around 23:45.
Weather Conditions and Investigation
Initial investigations suggest that adverse weather conditions, including rain and thunderstorms, may have contributed to this incident. These conditions possibly created visibility issues or navigation errors leading to the runway conflict. It was reported that the weather included a ceiling of 6,300 feet and visibility under 9 kilometers.
BEA Investigation
The Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) has responded by dispatching a team of four investigators to examine if the error stemmed from faulty air traffic control instructions, pilot navigation mistakess, or communication failures. The investigation will focus on understanding why the Nouvelair flight approached the incorrect runway.
