UAE airlines say no safety concerns after air traffic ‘incident’

UAE carriers Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways said Wednesday an investigation is underway after two of their planes apparently flew too close to each other, but that safety was never jeopardised.

The incident took place Sunday in Indian airspace between Emirates flight EK706, travelling from Seychelles to Dubai, and Etihad’s EY622 heading to Seychelles.

Dubai-based Emirates said its aircraft “was involved in an air traffic control incident in Mumbai airspace” but that, “at no point,” were the aircraft, passengers or crew at risk.

“All Emirates aircraft are equipped with onboard instrumentation so that crew are alerted in a timely manner of all surrounding traffic.”

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad said the traffic collision avoidance system on its plane “ensured that safe vertical separation of both aircraft was maintained at all times.”

“Etihad Airways has strongly rejected claims that the safety of flight EY622, Abu Dhabi to the Seychelles, was compromised,” a statement said.

Neither airline said how close the two planes came to each other.

Both said they were cooperating with aviation authorities investigating the incident.

Due to the conflict in Yemen, Emirates and Etihad have reportedly changed their routes to the Seychelles by using airspace controlled by Muscat and Mumbai.