Near-Catastrophe at Nice Airport
A potential disaster was narrowly avoided at Nice Airport last Sunday. At 11:30 PM French time, a Nouvel Air Airbus from Tunis was preparing to land on the Nice tarmac, while an EasyJet plane was getting ready to take off for Nantes.
Human Error or Technical Issue?
As the Nouvel Air plane began its descent, it found itself just a few meters away from the EasyJet plane, which was preparing for departure, and barely avoided a collision. Realizing that the runway was not clear for landing, the Nouvel Air pilot demonstrated exceptional professionalism and heroism by quickly accelerating and performing a loop to avoid the collision, before landing safely 20 minutes later.
According to a French aviation expert, the Nouvel Air pilot had begun its descent on the wrong runway, the right one, which is reserved for takeoffs, not landings. However, it is standard procedure for pilots to strictly follow the instructions of air traffic controllers in the control tower for takeoff and landing procedures.
Investigation Underway
The question remains whether there was a misunderstanding or confusion in the information provided by the control tower, or if there was a problem with visibility due to bad weather. It seems unlikely that an experienced pilot would make such a rookie mistake, getting the runway wrong so easily. Was there an issue with visibility due to poor weather, or was the EasyJet plane in the wrong place? The theories are contradictory, and for now, the black boxes have been recovered, and two investigations have been opened to determine the exact causes of the incident, which could have turned into a terrible tragedy.
Further Questions Raised
This incident also raises other questions. Where was the air traffic controller who is supposed to be on the tarmac to guide planes and prevent collisions during arrival and departure procedures? Why didn't the control tower controllers warn the Nouvel Air pilot of the presence of the EasyJet plane as it began its descent? It's worth noting that a similar incident almost occurred at another European airport over a month ago, where the control tower controller simply dozed off.
Heroic Pilot
In any case, whether at fault or not, the Nouvel Air pilot's calm, bravery, and exceptional professionalism have confirmed the excellent reputation of Tunisian pilots worldwide. The incident highlights the importance of air traffic control and the need for vigilance to prevent such near-misses in the future.
