Overview

• On July 6, Air China flight CA967 climbed from 34,100 to 36,000 feet without Russian ATC clearance, violating the 1,000-foot separation rule
• The unauthorized ascent drew the passenger jet within 300–400 feet of SF Airlines cargo flight CSS128 over the Tuva region of southern Siberia
• Traffic Collision Avoidance System alarms activated on both aircraft, prompting emergency avoidance maneuvers
• Unverified audio leaked on Chinese social media suggests the Russian controller was managing multiple flights and may have issued unclear instructions
• Air China, SF Airlines and China’s aviation authority have remained silent as regulators and carriers await formal investigation findings