• Friday, 27 September 2024

M-NAV: Investigation launched into Sept. 7 security incident mid-air over Skopje

M-NAV: Investigation launched into Sept. 7 security incident mid-air over Skopje

Skopje, 13 September 2024 (MIA) - A report has been duly submitted regarding a security incident mid-air over Skopje that happened on September 7 and an investigation has been opened to determine the actual situation and causes, the national air navigation service provider M-NAV said on Friday, following reports of a near-miss incident involving two planes. 

M-NAV notes that such incidents are always duly reported and processed by all relevant departments, as is the case everywhere in Europe. 

"A report on a security incident was duly submitted on September 7, at 6:30 pm. According to the rules and procedures, the report was registered by the IMS (Integrated Management Systems) department and submitted to the Civil Aviation Agency. Also, in line with the valid procedures, the IMS (Integrated Management Systems) department opened an investigation to determine the actual situation and the causes of the incident. We would like to point out that such events are always duly reported and processed by all relevant departments, services and institutions, in accordance with the legal procedures in place, as is the case everywhere in Europe," the press release reads. 

Earlier on Friday, the Civil Aviation Agency told MIA it is working on an incident reported by the national air navigation service provider M-NAV. 

"The air navigation service provider M-NAV duly reported the incident and the Civil Aviation Agency will act upon it," said the Civil Aviation Agency. 

Citing Flightradar24, SDK.mk previously said that a Turkish Airlines plane and a SunExpress Airlines plane nearly collided mid-air over the Skopje International Airport on September 7 at 6:32 pm. 

"The incident involves a Turkish Airlines Madrid to Istanbul Flight TK1358 and a SunExpress Dalaman to London-Gatwick Flight. According to Flightradar24, 30 seconds before the two planes passed each other, they were at the same altitude of 36,000 feet. Just before they passed each other, one ascended to 36,325 feet and the other descended to 35,475 feet. According to air traffic rules, there should be 2,000 feet of vertical separation between planes," says SDK.mk.  

Photo: MIA archive