(26-02-24) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) — On Monday, the Federal Government of Somalia implemented changes to its aviation communication protocols, following incidents involving the disruption of flights through Somali airspace, reportedly caused by Somaliland authorities.
According to Somalia’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Fardowsa Osman Egal, the decision was made to enhance the safety and security of air travel within the region. The new measures are in response to recent events where Somaliland allegedly disrupted communications with aircraft traversing Somali airspace.
The Minister detailed initiating a “Mitigation Step called 4-3-5,” a series of daily actionable steps designed to improve communication with aircraft. This includes issuing notices and shifting to advanced communication technologies. “We have moved to more advanced mobile systems and have informed the international aviation community to disregard directives from Somaliland and to communicate directly with us,” stated Mrs. Egal.
The shift in communication strategy comes after an incident over the weekend, where two passenger aircraft, one from Qatar Airways and the other from Ethiopian Airlines, narrowly avoided a mid-air collision. Both planes, en route from Addis Ababa and Doha to Kampala and Dubai respectively, reportedly received conflicting instructions that led them towards each other in the airspace over the northern regions of Somalia.
The near-miss, attributed to incorrect directives reportedly issued by Hargeisa, was averted by the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). The pilots of both aircraft managed to navigate away from the imminent threat, ensuring the safety of the passengers onboard.
The Federal Government of Somalia has condemned the actions leading to these dangerous circumstances and has pledged to maintain the integrity of its airspace. The international community is urged to adhere to the new communication protocols to prevent further incidents.
Halqabsi News
