Near-Catastrophe at Nice Airport
On Sunday, a potentially disastrous incident occurred at Nice Airport. At 11:30 PM French time, a Nouvel Air Airbus from Tunis was preparing to land on the Nice tarmac. Simultaneously, an EasyJet plane was preparing to take off for Nantes.
Human Error, Lack of Visibility, or a Combination of Factors?
As the Nouvel Air plane descended, it found itself just a few meters away from the EasyJet plane, which was preparing for departure, and narrowly avoided a collision. Realizing that the runway was not ready for landing, the Nouvel Air pilot demonstrated exceptional professionalism and heroic actions by restarting the engines and performing a loop to land safely 20 minutes later.
According to a French media expert, the pilot descended towards the wrong runway, the right one, which is reserved for takeoffs, not landings. However, it is known that pilots strictly follow the instructions of the control tower for takeoff and landing procedures. Was there a confusion in the information provided by the control tower or a problem with understanding? It seems unlikely that an experienced pilot would make such a beginner's mistake and easily confuse the runways.
Investigation Underway
The incident raises several questions. Was there a visibility problem due to bad weather, or was the EasyJet plane in the wrong place? The theories contradict each other today. 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 supposed to be on the tarmac to guide the planes and pilots during arrival and departure procedures to avoid potential collisions? Why didn't the control tower controllers, seeing the Nouvel Air pilot begin his descent, warn him of the presence of the EasyJet plane? It is worth noting that a similar incident nearly occurred over a month ago at another European airport, where the control tower controller simply dozed off.
Heroic Actions of the Pilot
In any case, whether at fault or not, it is certain that the calm, bravery, and exceptional professionalism of the Nouvel Air pilot have confirmed the excellent reputation of Tunisian pilots worldwide.
