An incident in Los Angeles airspace on 17 March 2025 has once again brought aviation safety and communication procedures into focus.
A serious near-collision incident occurred in Southern California airspace, involving a Cessna Citation and a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737, which came dangerously close to colliding mid-air. The incident took place in the area between Van Nuys (VNY) and Burbank (BUR) airports, which are only eight miles apart. The event raised questions about air traffic control procedures, pilot communication, and the effectiveness of safety systems.
Flight Details and Sequence of Events
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Cessna Citation (N610GD): Was flying from Borger, Texas to Van Nuys, California.
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Southwest WN2961: Was operating a flight from Sacramento to Burbank.
In this high-traffic area, the Cessna pilot lost visual contact with the runway due to reduced visibility. Unable to land, the pilot initiated a go-around manoeuvre but began climbing without first notifying air traffic control. Simultaneously, the Southwest Boeing 737 was descending over Van Nuys on its approach to Burbank.
This unexpected manoeuvre was detected by the TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) on both aircraft, which issued warnings to the cockpits to avoid a collision.
TCAS Prevents Mid-Air Collision
The TCAS system successfully intervened, preventing what could have been a catastrophic accident as the aircraft passed dangerously close to each other. Audio recordings and radar data from the incident, released by VASAviation, revealed that the Citation pilot may not have fully understood the controller’s instructions and failed to follow the missed approach procedure.
Key Details from the Audio Recordings
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The Cessna pilot was told twice that the runway was “at 12 o’clock”
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Despite this, the pilot requested vectors
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The go-around was not communicated to ATC
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Published procedures were not followed
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The air traffic controller remained passive at a critical moment
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Southwest pilots adhered to all procedures correctly
Safety Concerns in Congested Airspace
During the incident, multiple aircraft including those from Delta Air Lines were operating in the area. Low visibility from the north and approaching storms made air traffic management even more challenging.
Experts Warn: Training and Procedures Must Be Reviewed
Aviation safety experts highlighted how such incidents can quickly escalate into dangerous situations due to a chain of errors. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting a thorough investigation, aiming to improve training, controller protocols, and safety systems.
Importance of Safety Systems Reinforced
This event once again demonstrated the crucial role of technological systems like TCAS in compensating for traditional human errors. However, experts emphasise that near misses must not be left solely to systems—prevention also relies on well-trained pilots, vigilant controllers, and clear communication procedures.
