Did Ethiopian Airlines nearly collide with Qatar Airways on Somalia airspace?

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Social media has been awash with claims of two airplanes almost colliding in Somalia airspace last week, in what could have been the most fatal air accident in as many years, should have the incident taken place.

A keen study of the social media posts shows the information originated from X accounts owned by individuals within Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, which has been battling for control of Somalia’s airspace, amid an escalating diplomatic rift between Somalia and Ethiopia.

In a press conference with journalists, a team from Somalia Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) debunked the information, accusing purveyors of the 'fake news' of engaging in a 'propaganda' contest. The incident has neither been reported by Qatar, nor published by Ethiopia.

But the SCAA insists the planes in question maintained a safe distance of 9.71 NM, (18km), thus ruling out any possible collusion. The airlines in question were Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopia 602), and Qatar Airline (Qatari 6U).

Originators of the news claimed that the two were about to collide with each other in the air after receiving the wrong information from Muqdisho’s Airport Tower. This comes a few hours after Mogadishu insisted it was in firm control of the country's airspace.

In a statement, SCAA said that there is no security or safety risk in Somalia’s airspace and that it is operating as per the international standards and regulations for aviation. The breakaway region of Somaliland has been wrangling with the federal government over Somalia’s airspace.

The aviation body maintained that it was in direct contact with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and other regional and international partners to ensure the smooth operation of the airspace.

Somalia had accused 'external forces' of triggering disruptions in its airspace about Somaliland’s quest for its control. Somaliland is fighting for international recognition but remains part of Somalia, thus using permissions from Mogadishu on airspace control.

GAROWE ONLINE