Two passenger jets carrying approximately 600 people came within three metres of catastrophic collision at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport after a Tunisian aircraft mistakenly attempted to land on the wrong runway, nearly crushing an easyJet plane preparing for takeoff.
The heart-stopping incident on Sunday night saw Nouvelair flight BJ586 from Tunis pass directly over easyJet flight U24706, which was lined up on runway 04R awaiting departure to Nantes. Aviation experts have described it as one of the closest near-misses in aviation history, with the aircraft separated by just 10 feet at the moment of maximum danger.
French aviation authorities have launched a major investigation into what they’ve classified as a “serious incident” after the Nouvelair Airbus A320 descended to just 50 feet above ground level before initiating an emergency go-around at approximately 170mph. The dramatic near-catastrophe left pilots visibly shaken and passengers describing “deafening roars” from the engines overhead.
Seconds from Disaster
The terrifying sequence of events unfolded at 23:32 local time on 21 September when the easyJet Airbus A320, registration OE-IJZ, was positioning on runway 04R for its scheduled departure. Meanwhile, the incoming Nouvelair A320, registration TS-INP, had been cleared to land on the parallel runway 04L but inexplicably aligned with the occupied runway instead.
According to flight tracking data from ADS-B and Flightradar24, the Nouvelair aircraft crossed the runway threshold at just 50 feet above ground level. Given that an Airbus A320 has a tail height of 41 feet, the margin for error had effectively vanished. The Tunisian jet passed approximately three metres above the stationary easyJet aircraft in what aviation experts are calling a miraculous escape from certain catastrophe.
Passengers aboard the easyJet flight experienced violent shaking and turbulence from the wake of the passing aircraft. One passenger told French media outlet Le Figaro: “The plane was about to take off when we heard an enormous noise of engines right alongside.”
Pilots Left in “Visible State of Shock”
The psychological impact on the flight crews was immediate and severe. The easyJet captain was reportedly seen leaving the cockpit with tears in his eyes and visibly shaking hands. The crew’s state of shock was so profound that they declined to continue with the flight, resulting in its cancellation.
“We saw the head pilot leave the cockpit, he was crying and his hands were shaking,” one passenger on the easyJet flight told Le Figaro, capturing the raw emotional toll of the near-disaster.
The easyJet aircraft immediately aborted its takeoff and taxied back to the gate at Terminal 2. All passengers were disembarked and provided with refreshments whilst alternative arrangements were made. The flight to Nantes was ultimately cancelled, with the airline confirming the delay was a direct result of the incident.
Weather Conditions Complicate Investigation
The incident occurred during challenging weather conditions that may have contributed to the runway confusion. The meteorological report (METAR) from Nice Airport indicated thunderstorms in the vicinity, with visibility reduced below nine kilometres and cloud ceilings at 6,300 feet. Heavy rain and thick fog were reported, creating what investigators describe as “particularly challenging” flying conditions.
Weather radar overlays confirmed the presence of significant thunderstorm activity around Nice at the time of the incident. The combination of reduced visibility, heavy rain, and the stress of a late-night approach may have contributed to the Nouvelair crew’s critical error in runway selection.
Despite these conditions, aviation safety protocols should have prevented such a dangerous situation from developing. The parallel runways at Nice – 04L and 04R – are standard features at major airports worldwide, and pilots are trained extensively in their proper identification and use.
Swift Emergency Response
Following the heart-stopping flyover, the Nouvelair crew executed a go-around procedure, climbing to 4,000 feet before repositioning for another approach. The aircraft successfully landed on the correct runway, 04L, approximately 12 minutes after the near-miss, at 23:44 local time.
Airport management’s initial response pointed to pilot error as the primary cause. They stated: “It seems that the Nouvelair pilot made an error,” though the full investigation will examine all contributing factors including air traffic control communications and navigation system readings.
The French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) immediately classified the event as a “serious incident” and deployed a team of four investigators to Nice Airport. The investigation team seized both aircraft’s flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders for analysis.
“Catastrophic Collision Narrowly Avoided”
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot, who has served since December 2024, acknowledged the severity of the incident, though specific statements about this particular near-miss have not been publicly released. The minister has been dealing with various transport challenges in France, including recent strikes affecting air travel.
The BEA’s swift response underscores the gravity of the situation. Their investigation will examine multiple factors including pilot navigation errors, air traffic control instructions, communication failures between the tower and approaching aircraft, and the impact of adverse weather conditions on decision-making.
Nouvelair released a statement acknowledging the incident: “On September 21, 2025, around 11:30 p.m., during the landing of flight BJ586 Tunis–Nice at Nice Airport, an incident occurred under particularly challenging weather conditions, marked by very heavy rain and extremely reduced visibility. In accordance with current standards and procedures, an investigation has been opened to determine the exact causes and circumstances of this event.”
Industry Implications
Aviation safety experts have expressed alarm at just how close this incident came to becoming one of Europe’s worst aviation disasters. The proximity of the two aircraft – measured in single digits of feet – represents what some are calling a new record for runway near-misses at major European airports.
EasyJet confirmed their full cooperation with the investigation, stating: “The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority and in line with procedures, we are fully cooperating with the safety investigation that has been launched in order to understand what happened.”
The incident has reignited debates about runway safety protocols, particularly during adverse weather conditions. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport operates two parallel runways situated close together, a configuration that requires precise navigation and clear communication between pilots and air traffic control.
Previous Safety Concerns
This near-miss comes amid heightened scrutiny of aviation safety across Europe. Just weeks before this incident, an easyJet pilot was suspended after his packed holiday jet flew too close to a mountain near the Red Sea resort of Hurghada in Egypt, coming just seconds away from disaster.
In a separate incident at Manchester Airport, passengers were forced to disembark from an easyJet flight to Lanzarote after it collided with a tow vehicle operated by the airline. The vehicle struck the front wheels of the plane while pushing it off the stand, triggering a massive emergency response.
These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges facing commercial aviation as air traffic returns to pre-pandemic levels whilst airlines and airports grapple with staffing shortages and infrastructure pressures.
Passengers Describe Terror
Witnesses aboard both aircraft have provided harrowing accounts of the near-miss. Passengers on the easyJet flight reported feeling violent turbulence and hearing what they described as a “deafening roar” as the Nouvelair jet passed overhead. The proximity was such that some passengers could make out details of the other aircraft through their windows.
The psychological impact on passengers cannot be understated. Many were left deeply shaken by their brush with disaster, with some requiring assistance from airport staff to manage their distress. The cancellation of the easyJet flight, whilst operationally necessary, left hundreds of travellers stranded overnight in Nice.
Investigation Focus
The BEA’s investigation will focus on several critical areas. Investigators will examine whether the error originated from air traffic control instructions, pilot navigation mistakes, or communication failures. The role of the adverse weather conditions will be scrutinised, as will the effectiveness of ground-based navigation aids and runway lighting systems.
Particular attention will be paid to the crew resource management aboard both aircraft and the air traffic control procedures in place for managing parallel runway operations during low-visibility conditions. The investigation’s findings could lead to significant changes in operational procedures at Nice and other airports with similar runway configurations.
As both aircraft remain grounded for technical inspection and data extraction, the aviation industry awaits answers about how two modern aircraft, equipped with sophisticated navigation systems and operated by experienced crews, could come so perilously close to disaster in the heart of Europe.
The incident serves as a stark reminder that despite decades of safety improvements, aviation remains an industry where seconds and metres can separate routine operations from catastrophe.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
Image Credit:
EasyJet Airbus A319-111 G-EZGK at Málaga — photo by Javier Bravo Muñoz, GNU Free Documentation License 1.2
