An easyJet aircraft narrowly avoided a collision with another airliner at Nice Côte d’Azur airport in France, with the urgent launch of an investigation. Passengers on the easyJet plane were on the runway ready for takeoff when they heard the loud noise of the incoming Nouvelair jet powering up to avoid a crash. The incident occurred during heavy rain at the third busiest airport in France on Sunday night. The French transport minister, Philippe Tabarot, confirmed that a potential collision between the Nouvelair and easyJet planes was narrowly averted, prompting an immediate investigation by the air accident investigation branch (BEA).
The two aircraft involved, both Airbus A320s, could have been carrying over 300 passengers and crew if fully loaded. The pilot of the easyJet flight mentioned that only a few meters separated the two planes. The airport management placed blame on the pilot of the landing Nouvelair Airbus for the error, although the control tower could have also been at fault. Flight tracking data indicated the Tunisian Airbus approaching the incorrect runway before aborting the landing.
While the easyJet Airbus waited on the same runway before taxiing back, the Tunisian aircraft circled around and landed on a parallel runway. The near-miss incident led to the cancellation of the easyJet flight to Nantes, leaving the pilots visibly shaken. The BEA classified the event as a serious incident, grounding both flights for investigation. The adverse weather conditions at the time will be thoroughly examined.
An easyJet spokesperson emphasized the airline’s commitment to customer and crew safety, stating full cooperation with the ongoing safety investigation. The BEA urged against premature conclusions but confirmed the Nouvelair’s approach to the wrong runway.
