Two Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) planes flying the same route and altitude avoided a mid-air collision over Iranian airspace, SIAL NEWS reported.
According to the details, two PIA planes flying the same route and altitude – close to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) border – came dangerously close due to alleged negligence by Iranian air traffic control (ATC).
A PIA Boeing 777 was en route from Islamabad to Dubai, while the other plane was an Airbus A320 from Doha to Peshawar. ATC reportedly cleared the altitude for two planes to fly at the same time.
However, as the two aircraft approached each other, one was instructed to dive while the other was asked to climb in altitude per standard practice followed in such situations.
There is a system on all aircraft, called the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which automatically guides the aircraft through communication with the TCAS of other aircraft in the vicinity.
Meanwhile, PIA authorities have written a letter to Iranian Air Traffic Control (ATC) to investigate the matter.
Giving details, a PIA spokesman said PIA Flight PK-211, a Boeing 777 from Islamabad to Dubai, was maintaining an altitude of 35,000 feet when it approached Peshawar-bound Flight PK-268 of an Airbus A320 from Doha. .
Flight PK-268 was flying at an altitude of 36,000 feet and was cleared to descend to 20,000 feet, it said. However, the aircraft’s TCAS corrected the course of both planes and guided them automatically, the spokesperson added.
