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Emirates denies report of near collision with Ethiopian Airlines flight

Emirates has refuted social media claims regarding a close-call air collision involving an Ethiopia Airlines flight, as confirmed by the national carrier. (Photo: Emirates)

By Foreign Reporter | Thursday, March 28, 2024

Emirates said there was no instance of an aircraft proximity event compromising the safety of the aircraft over the airspace and during the date and time in question.

Emirates has refuted social media claims regarding a close-call air collision involving an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

An Emirates spokesperson stated on Wednesday, "Emirates can confirm that there was no instance of an aircraft proximity event compromising the safety of the aircraft over the airspace and during the date and time in question.

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"All Emirates aircraft are equipped with capabilities to maintain safe separation and distance during operations."

According to reports on X, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Somaliland asserted that an Emirates B777, operating as flight EK722, "narrowly avoided a collision" with an Ethiopian Airlines B737 MAX, operating as flight ET690.

The incident allegedly occurred on Sunday evening, March 24.

"As of now, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Federal Government of Somalia has not responded to the incident," the report added.

"The incident reportedly occurred when both planes were directed to maintain an altitude of 37,000 feet by the Federal Government of Somalia's Mogadishu Control Centre. The authority explicitly accused the Mogadishu Control Centre of negligence. The Somaliland control post observed this and instructed the crew of the Ethiopian airliner to ascend to 39,000 feet."

The breakaway region criticised the air traffic controllers in Mogadishu, stating "The Mogadishu Controllers regularly make mistakes like these, which are a threat to the safety of international flights."

Somalia had taken firm control over her airspace after Ethiopia started courting Somaliland for a stake in the Red Sea.