(24-02-24) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) — On Saturday noon, a Qatar Airways flight 6U from Doha to Entebbe and an Ethiopian Airlines flight 602 from Addis Ababa to Dubai nearly collided over Somali airspace due to erroneous instructions from aviation controllers in Mogadishu and Hargeisa. The Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) on both aircraft played a crucial role in preventing a disaster, instructing the Qatar Airways flight to maintain its altitude and avoid the Ethiopian Airlines flight, which was cruising at 39,000 feet. This incident has cast a spotlight on the ongoing airspace control dispute between Somalia and the breakaway region of Somaliland, with recent reports indicating disruptions to radio communications for flights over Somalia, including Israel’s national carrier El Al.
The Somaliland Aviation Authority confirmed the close encounter between the two flights, underscoring the importance of collision avoidance systems. Despite the tension, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority has yet to comment on this specific incident. However, earlier this month, they detailed efforts to secure Somali airspace, issuing NOTAMs A0017/24 and A0019/24 in response to alleged airspace violations by Somaliland. Somalia asserts its commitment to maintaining high safety standards within the “MOGADISHU FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR),” claiming Class-A Airspace status and jurisdiction since the 1960s.
The situation escalated over the last weekend with OpsGroup reporting at least 10 instances of fake air traffic control instructions being broadcasted within the Mogadishu FIR, primarily affecting the northern region. These false directives, believed to be originating from Hargeisa in Somaliland, have included incorrect climb and descent clearances, highlighting the potential for airspace control disputes to jeopardize civil aviation safety. The international community is closely monitoring these developments, calling for a resolution to the airspace control conflict to ensure the safety of international flights over the Horn of Africa.
Halqabsi News
