An Air China Airbus A350 and an SF Airlines Boeing 767-300ER were involved in a near-miss incident over Russian airspace. The planes reportedly came within 300 to 400 feet of each other while flying over Siberia, according to recordings and media reports. This incident raises concerns about aviation safety standards in the region.
The near-miss occurred on July 6, 2025, when the Air China flight CA967 unexpectedly ascended from its authorized altitude of 34,100 feet to 36,000 feet without clearance from Russian air traffic controllers. At the same time, the SF Airlines freighter was cruising at 35,000 feet. This resulted in a violation of international aviation regulations that require a minimum vertical separation of 1,000 feet between aircraft.
The unexpected climb activated the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) in both aircraft, prompting emergency evasive maneuvers. The incident took place over the mountainous Tuva region near the Mongolian border.