AviationNews
When & Where
- Date: July 6, 2025
- Location: Over Tuva, a mountainous and remote region in southern Siberia, near the Mongolian border.
The Aircraft
- Air China Flight CA967 – Airbus A350‑900 (reg. B‑32DN), flying from Shanghai Pudong to Milan Malpensa.
- SF Airlines Flight CSS128 – Boeing 767‑300ER/BCF cargo jet (reg. B‑220R), traveling from Budapest to Ezhou.
What Happened
- The A350 initiated an unauthorised climb from FL 341 (34,100 ft) to FL 360 (36,000 ft) without clearance from Russian ATC, intruding directly into the cargo plane’s cruising level at FL 350 (35,000 ft).
- This breach reduced vertical separation to just 300–400 ft, far below the standard 1,000 ft minimum.
Collision Avoidance & Response
- Both aircraft triggered TCAS alerts, prompting immediate evasive maneuvers directed by ATC to avert disaster.
- Audio leaked from Chinese social media reveals tense confusion: the cargo pilot questioned the A350’s climb, and the A350 crew suggested the Russian controller caused the miscommunication.
Investigation Underway
- The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Air China, SF Airlines, and Russian authorities have been notified. A joint investigation is probing possible causes such as radio communication overlap or misheard instructions.
Why This Matters
- Safety standards compromised: The incident exposed how easily procedural safeguards can fail under ATC miscommunication.
- Spiking traffic over Siberia: As airlines reroute through Russia due to other conflicts, even remote airspace becomes congested and prone to errors.
- TCAS systems saved lives: This event underscores the importance of onboard collision-avoidance tech.
In Their Own Words
“I saw your plane climbing… Such a crossing altitude is very inappropriate.” – SF Airlines pilot
“No. Thank you.” – Air China pilot, when asked if the climb was instructed
