A loss of separation incident involving two commercial flights occurred over the Tuva region near the Mongolian border on July 7, 2025.
An Air China Airbus A350-900, operating as Flight CA967 was enroute from Shanghai Pudong to Milan Malpensa. It came within 90–120 meters of an SF Airlines Boeing 767-300(F) cargo aircraft operating as flight CSS128, from Budapest to Ezhou, China.
The separation between the two aircraft was far below the 1,000-foot minimum vertical separation required by international aviation standards. It has raised serious concerns about air traffic control (ATC) and flight safety.
Loss of Separation Incident Over Tuva
The loss of separation incident occurred at approximately 21:39–21:52 GMT over southern Siberia’s mountainous terrain. The Air China flight, an Airbus A350-900, climbed without authorization from 34,100 feet to flight level FL360 (36,000 feet).
In doing so, it entered the flight path of the SF Airlines Boeing 767 freighter cruising at FL350 (35,000 feet).
The Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) on both aircraft triggered urgent evasive maneuvers. Russian ATC, managing four aircraft simultaneously, instructed CA967 to turn right to a 360-degree heading. It vectored flight CSS128 onto a 150-degree heading, averting a collision.
Audio recordings circulating on Chinese social media reveal chaotic exchanges between pilots and a Russian controller.
The Air China pilot reportedly said, “No. Thank you,” when asked if the climb was ATC-approved, suggesting a possible miscommunication.
Some speculate the pilot may have mistaken instructions meant for another aircraft, such as a nearby Hainan Airlines flight. The incident highlights potential vulnerabilities in ATC coordination, especially in busy or under-resourced airspace.
Both aircraft landed safely, with no injuries reported. However, the close call has prompted scrutiny of aviation protocols.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Russian authorities are collaborating on a joint investigation under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines.
Aircraft Details
The aircraft conducting flight CA967 was an Airbus A350-900, registered B-32DN. This is a 2.4 year old widebody aircraft belonging to the carrier Air China. It entered operational service with the airline on 23 June 2023.
The aircraft conducting flight CSS128 was a Boeing 767-300(F), registered B-220R. This is a converted freighter aircraft belonging to the carrier SF Airlines. It has been in operational service with the airline since June 2021.
