Turkish Airlines A330F Airprox with Flydubai 737 Max 9 over Mumbai FIR
Impact Assessment Rationale
While no physical damage or casualties occurred and both aircraft continued to their destinations, the incident involved a passenger aircraft with 173 persons on board and multiple losses of separation, creating potential liability and regulatory exposure for Turkish Airlines and associated underwriters.
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Summary
On 30 August 2025, a Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-200F freighter (TC-JOO) climbed without ATC clearance after the first officer misinterpreted an ATC message light, resulting in a loss of separation with a Flydubai Boeing 737 Max 9 (A6-FKR) carrying 173 passengers and crew. The two aircraft came within less than 1,000ft vertical separation along Route P574 in Mumbai's flight information region. India's AAIB has released its final investigation report, attributing the incident to absence of required cross-verification and misinterpretation of the message light. The A330F also suffered loss of separation with a Qatar Airways A320 and an Emirates 777-300ER during the same incident.
This summary is AI-generated from linked source reports and may change as more information becomes available. See our correction policy for how to report errors.
Structured Intelligence
known
- The incident occurred on 30 August 2025 at approximately 05:17 local time over Mumbai's flight information region.
- Turkish Airlines A330-200F (TC-JOO) was operating Chennai to Istanbul; Flydubai 737 Max 9 (A6-FKR) was operating Dubai to Calicut.
- The two aircraft came within less than 1,000ft vertical separation and 3nm horizontal proximity.
- The A330F first officer misinterpreted an illuminated blue ATC message light as climb clearance; clearance had not been granted.
- India's AAIB identified two probable causes: absence of cross-verification and misinterpretation of the message light.
- The A330F also lost separation with a Qatar Airways A320 and an Emirates 777-300ER.
- Both aircraft continued to their destinations without further incident.
- AAIB recommended Turkish Airlines reinforce controller-pilot communications and amend its operators' manual.
reported
- The Flydubai 737 was carrying 173 passengers and crew.
- The pilot-in-command of the A330F was on controlled rest when the incident occurred.
- ATC responded 'Unable due to traffic' to the climb request, but the first officer did not register this as a denial.
uncertain
- Whether Turkish Airlines has implemented the AAIB's recommended procedural changes.
- Whether any regulatory enforcement action has been or will be taken against Turkish Airlines or the crew members involved.
Affected Countries
Key Entities
Sources
Trade Media
- FlightGlobal19 May 2026, 09:24
Timeline
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remediation: existing authoritative signal
Initial Detection
On 30 August 2025, a Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-200F freighter (TC-JOO) climbed without ATC clearance after the first officer misinterpreted an ATC message light, resulting in a loss of separation with a Flydubai Boeing 737 Max 9 (A6-FKR) carrying 173 passengers and crew. The two aircraft came within less than 1,000ft vertical separation along Route P574 in Mumbai's flight information region. India's AAIB has released its final investigation report, attributing the incident to absence of required cross-verification and misinterpretation of the message light. The A330F also suffered loss of separation with a Qatar Airways A320 and an Emirates 777-300ER during the same incident.
The first officer noticed a blue ATC message light that illuminated, and assumed that clearance to climb was given. He initiated the climb, bringing the aircraft close to the Flydubai 737. The AAIB states the 737 was 3nm ahead and 2nm offset towards the right of the A330, prompting a traffic advisory signal on both aircraft.
Source: FlightGlobal (Trade Media) · View source