Pilot and air traffic controller errors behind Shenzhen Airlines near crash at Hong Kong’s Big Buddha statue, experts say
Transcript reportedly shows pilot responded to radio command meant for other plane, but controller failed to resolve confusion
Pilot and air traffic controller errors contributed to a near crash involving a Shenzhen Airlines aircraft’s aborted landing last weekend, an analysis of the audio communications shows.
Following the incident, airline officials were ordered to appear in front of Hong Kong’s aviation authority and give their version of events about the “missed approach” of flight ZH9041 from Jinjiang, Fujian province, which sent the plane on a course close to the Big Buddha statue and Lantau Peak.
The aircraft landed safely after 20 minutes, and no one was injured.
Based on a transcript sourced from an audio streaming site that provides a live feed of air traffic control communications around the world, LiveATC.net, the confusion was apparently triggered by an air traffic controller (ATC) contacting a nearby Saudia aircraft, which was also on a final approach, after the message was intercepted by the Shenzhen Airlines pilots.
Experts told the Post the mainland carrier’s pilots made the first mistake by responding to the radio command for Saudia. However the controller also made an error in not resolving the confusion, which forced the plane to head in an unsafe direction.