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Near miss involving Air China A350 and freighter sparks safety concerns

Near miss involving Air China A350 and freighter sparks safety concerns
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Air China Airbus A350 | Official Website

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.

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Recordings suggest miscommunication between the cockpit and air traffic control played a significant role in this event. A seven-minute recording circulating on Chinese social media indicates that Russian air traffic controllers were coordinating four Chinese aircraft at the time.

Air China flight CA967 may have mistakenly interpreted an altitude instruction meant for another aircraft due to inaudible transmission and lack of correction from air traffic control. As a result, CA967 acted on incorrect instructions and changed altitude accordingly.

Following this confusion, dialogue continued between ATC and pilots. The SF Airlines pilot requested verification of another aircraft's position ahead before receiving instructions to turn right with a heading of 150 degrees while activating its TCAS RA alarm. Similarly, Air China's plane activated its RA alarm shortly after but resolved conflict soon afterward.

Neither Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Air China nor SF Airlines has issued any public statement regarding this incident yet.

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