Overview

• On July 6, Air China Flight CA967 climbed from 34,100 to 36,000 feet without clearance over Tuva in Russian airspace.
• The Airbus A350 and an SF Airlines cargo plane violated the 1,000-foot separation standard when they closed to within 300–400 feet.
• Leaked recordings of pilots’ exchanges with Russian air traffic control suggest confusion over instructions but have not been independently verified.
• Traffic Collision Avoidance System alerts sounded on both aircraft, prompting rapid corrective maneuvers.
• A formal investigation is under way, and regulators and both airlines have been approached for comment.