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The ATSB has opened an investigation into what it describes as a serious incident involving the loss of separation between two Qantas A330s 20km west of Adelaide on September 20.
Australian Aviation understands the aircraft, A330-220s VH-EBS operating Perth-Sydney and VH-EBO operating Sydney-Perth, came within 700ft of one another vertically and 1.5nm laterally as one aircraft was cleared by air traffic control to climb through the flight level of the other.
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According to the ATSB’s incident summary, VH-EBS was cruising at flight level FL390 while VH-EBO was cleared to climb from FL380 to FL400. Soon after, the controller cancelled the clearance and the aircraft descended back to FL380. The flightcrew of -EBS received a resolution advisory alert from the aircraft’s traffic collision avoidance system.
Qantas has confirmed the incident, but has denied it was a near-miss.
The air traffic controller involved in the incident has been routinely stood down while the investigation continues.
