Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937 & DHL Flight 611
Steven Meyer • March 25, 2024
The 2002 Überlingen mid-air collision stands as one of the most tragic aviation accidents in recent history. Occurring on the night of July 1, 2002, over the southern German town of Überlingen, it involved a Russian passenger plane, Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937, and a cargo jet, DHL Flight 611.
Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937, a Tupolev Tu-154M, was en route from Moscow, Russia, to Barcelona, Spain, carrying mostly children on a holiday trip organized by a Russian school. DHL Flight 611, a Boeing 757-23APF cargo jet, was flying from Bergamo, Italy, to Brussels, Belgium.
The collision happened at 11:35 PM local time when both aircraft were cruising at an altitude of 36,000 feet. The Bashkirian flight was under the control of Swiss air traffic control, while the DHL flight was being managed by German controllers. Unfortunately, due to a combination of factors including human error and systemic failures, the two planes were directed onto a collision course.
The primary cause of the accident was a breakdown in the automated collision avoidance system, known as TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System). Both aircraft were equipped with TCAS, which is designed to detect potential collisions and provide instructions to pilots to avoid them. However, a flaw in the system meant that it was unable to account for the relative altitude of the two aircraft correctly.
As a result, TCAS instructed the Bashkirian flight to descend and the DHL flight to climb, putting them on a converging path. The crew of the Bashkirian flight followed the TCAS instruction and initiated a descent, while the DHL crew followed their air traffic controller's instruction to maintain their altitude. This led to a catastrophic collision over Überlingen.
The impact destroyed both aircraft, scattering debris over a wide area and causing the wreckage to fall onto the town below. All 69 people aboard the two planes, including 45 children, lost their lives in the tragedy. Miraculously, no one on the ground was injured despite debris falling on residential areas.
The aftermath of the Überlingen mid-air collision prompted widespread scrutiny of air traffic control procedures, TCAS technology, and the coordination between various air traffic control centers. It also led to significant changes in aviation regulations and protocols to enhance air safety and prevent similar accidents in the future.
The tragedy of the 2002 Überlingen mid-air collision serves as a somber reminder of the critical importance of robust safety measures and effective communication in aviation, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement in air traffic management systems and procedures to ensure the safety of passengers and crew alike.
Sources: Simple Flying, FAA, German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Investigation, Infinite Flight, Skybrary
Images: Admiral Cloudberg, German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Investigation
