UL 504 avoids biggest possible mid-air collision with British Airways

15 June 2022 06:54 am - 29 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The UL pilot and crew who had been vigilant had detected a British Airways flight just 15 miles away from them flying at 35,000 feet

UL 504, flying from London to Colombo landed at the BIA last afternoon, avoiding its biggest possible mid-air collision with a British Airways flight while in Turkish airspace, the Daily Mirror learns.

Sources familiar with the incident said that the flight carrying 275 passengers on board and a crew, had entered the Turkish Airspace of Ankara after leaving Heathrow en route to Colombo when Ankara air control informed the UL pilot to climb to 35,000 feet from the 33,000 feet they were flying at.

The UL pilot and crew who had been vigilant had detected a British Airways flight just 15 miles away from them flying at 35,000 feet and informed the air traffic control at Ankara that there was a flight already above.

The British Airways flight which was on its way to Dubai and then Singapore had left Heathrow just shortly after the UL flight had taken off.

After checking, the Ankara air traffic control had informed the UL Captain that they had not detected any flight at 35,000 feet on their radar and the UL flight was cleared to climb. The pilot who by that time had detected the British Airways flight on the flight's radar had not climbed and informed the Ankara air traffic control once again to check. It was only minutes later that the air traffic had responded urgently informing the UL flight not to climb as there was already a flight right above at 35,000 feet.

If the UL captain had climbed to the requested height, the UL flight would have faced a mid-on collision with the British Airways flight, as it was flying at a faster speed than the UL flight. Upon landing at the BIA the passengers safely disembarked from the flight along with the crew but a report on the incident was filed.

The lives of 275 passengers on UL 504, its crew members, and the lives of passengers on the British Airways flight and its crew members were saved due to the vigilance and strong decision-making of the Chief Pilot of UL 504. (JAMILA HUSAIN)

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Comments - 29

Joseph Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:02 AM

Good job sir you saved lives.

Robert Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:06 AM

Deliberate attempt by the traffic control person? What's his origin and religious intent?

Tak Tik Tuk Wednesday, 15 June 2022 10:46 AM

Sounds more of Negligence than Intent... what's your intent with such questions?

Tissa Fernando Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:08 AM

Pilot should be honored for avoiding such accident. He us a hero.

DHA Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:09 AM

Hats off Sir....May God Bless you always....

Sorrysena Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:10 AM

TCAS ?

Clare Wijesinhe Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:26 AM

Bravo to the observant Pilot

Mohan Peiris Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:30 AM

Name the Pilot who did this heroic act. If not for his vigilance it could have ended up by making SL to pay in Billions of Dollars at this time of crippled economy. Hats off to this Pilot.

Si Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:30 AM

Well done UL pilot.. you saved many lives... Sri Lankan Airlines always the best in terms of safety..

Russell von Bergheim Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:32 AM

The pilot of the Ul flight deserves special recognition.

Theophilus Ajitha Fernando Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:38 AM

Wow ! We came in that flight !! Kudos to our Pilot for his vigilance

Bhatiya Siriwardena Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:38 AM

Fantastic work ! Salute to our pilot on UL 504.

paspperera Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:50 AM

The Pilot = A hero

Dilan Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:53 AM

Modern aircrafts are equipped with collusion detection and prevention systems, which will inform both aircrafts to take alternative direction in case of collusion detected. Pilots is nothing job these days, full automation is not too far either.

WHK Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:54 AM

should be given the biggest publicity possible for the vigilant act of the Piolet

Jude Wednesday, 15 June 2022 08:54 AM

May be Ankara Traffic Controller was "HIGH" !!

Ds Wednesday, 15 June 2022 10:50 AM

Well done to the pilot for saving lives. We should bare in mind that not all pilots are male. This particular flight had a female pilot and all appreciation should be forwarded to her as well for being vigilant and saving lives.

BHAGYA Wednesday, 15 June 2022 10:53 AM

There is a system in place it's called TCAS, whether pilot in or not if the system is up both the planes would have done the job, let's praise the plan and radar system.

Jef Wednesday, 15 June 2022 10:58 AM

Fantastic to see a great captain on fully concentration on the job that safes somany sri Lankan British and other national's life's special award must be consider for that brave captain decision..god bless you and the crew

Prof Jey R Wednesday, 15 June 2022 11:29 AM

Amazing work, must be rewarded and honnored.

Nam About Town Wednesday, 15 June 2022 11:44 AM

The pilot, the hero of the day. If Vasudeva has read this he would have said' - so what, we can claim compensation.

Sammy Wednesday, 15 June 2022 11:53 AM

Kudos and hats off to the Srilankan Airlines pilot for his alertness which prevented a major air collision, due to negligence of Turkish Air Traffic Controllers.

P Lakshmi Wijeratne Wednesday, 15 June 2022 11:55 AM

Hats off to our Pilot. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Gen Wednesday, 15 June 2022 11:57 AM

Firm action and fine in million should be imposed on the Turkish authority. This is criminal.

Ravi Wednesday, 15 June 2022 12:09 PM

Excellent job Sir.

DOT Wednesday, 15 June 2022 12:30 PM

That was the only missing incident so far.

Anne Karunaratne Wednesday, 15 June 2022 12:33 PM

Who is the pilot? He should be honoured by all means.

Triple X Wednesday, 15 June 2022 12:36 PM

Govt should award him with a respectable medal.

SK Wednesday, 15 June 2022 05:01 PM

Sri Lankan is the best, I always choose Sri Lankan if I need to travel to Sri Lanka, I experienced the pilots are so vigilant and always in my previous journeys as well

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UL 504 avoids biggest possible mid-air collision with British Airways

Comments - 29

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