France’s civil-aviation safety bureau (BEA) has opened a full investigation after a Nouvelair Airbus A320 on final approach and an EasyJet A320 taxiing for take-off came within three metres of colliding at Nice Côte d’Azur on the foggy night of 21 September. A preliminary BEA report released on 24 October—and widely analysed on 26-27 October—points to pilot confusion over the parallel 04L/04R runways compounded by low visibility and storm delays.
Although the incident occurred last month, the report’s findings made headlines on 27 October as airlines and airport operators digested recommendations. They include enhanced ground-movement radar displays in cockpits, revised runway-designation signage, and mandatory simultaneous English/French radio calls at regional hubs that host mixed carriers.
Nice is France’s third-busiest airport and a key entry point for executives attending conferences in Sophia-Antipolis and Cannes. Insurers say the near-miss is a stark reminder to corporate travel managers to update crisis-response protocols and ensure employees are covered by employer liability policies that include psychological counselling after traumatic events.
Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur said it will accelerate its €45 million runway-safety upgrade originally planned for 2026. BEA’s final report is due in early 2026, but airlines have already begun issuing flight-crew bulletins emphasising strict adherence to Low-Visibility Procedures (LVP).
Although the incident occurred last month, the report’s findings made headlines on 27 October as airlines and airport operators digested recommendations. They include enhanced ground-movement radar displays in cockpits, revised runway-designation signage, and mandatory simultaneous English/French radio calls at regional hubs that host mixed carriers.
Nice is France’s third-busiest airport and a key entry point for executives attending conferences in Sophia-Antipolis and Cannes. Insurers say the near-miss is a stark reminder to corporate travel managers to update crisis-response protocols and ensure employees are covered by employer liability policies that include psychological counselling after traumatic events.
Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur said it will accelerate its €45 million runway-safety upgrade originally planned for 2026. BEA’s final report is due in early 2026, but airlines have already begun issuing flight-crew bulletins emphasising strict adherence to Low-Visibility Procedures (LVP).
