Description

On 25 November 2014, an Airbus A319 (LZ-FBB) being operated by Bulgaria Air on a scheduled international passenger flight from Sofia to Paris CDG as LZB431 taxiing in after landing at destination crossed a runway on which an Airbus A320 (TC-FBJ) being operated by Freebird Airlines on an international passenger flight from Paris CDG to Istanbul Atatürk as FHY542 was taking off from and overflew the A319 by about 100 feet shortly after becoming airborne. Normal daylight visibility prevailed.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the French civil aviation accident investigation agency, the BEA, based upon recorded ATC data, particularly but not only recordings from the ground radar system.

It was established that at the time of the conflict, runway 08R was in use for landings and runway 08L for takeoffs. Communications between ATC and both the aircraft involved were carried out in the English language but concurrently, communications between ATC and some other aircraft were being carried out in the French language. One TWR controller, who had held an ATCO licence since 2003 and been qualified in all positions at Paris CDG since 2005, was responsible for both runways. He was being assisted in co-ordination with other positions by another fully qualified controller who had held an ATCO licence since 2008 and been qualified in all positions at Paris CDG since 2011.