What happened
On July 7, 2015, an Airbus A320 was taxiing at Warsaw Chopin Airport (EPWA) following instructions from the ground controller. During the taxi process, the ground controller instructed the crew to switch their radio frequency from 121.900 MHz to 118.300 MHz. Following the operator's internal procedures, the crew updated the frequency on radio station RMP1, but the previous frequency of 121.900 MHz remained active on RMP2.
After establishing contact with the Tower (TWR) on the new frequency, the crew received clearance to enter runway 33 and was instructed to await further instructions. Shortly after occupying the runway, the crew observed flashing runway lights and attempted to re-establish radio contact with the Tower. After several unsuccessful attempts to communicate with air traffic control, the crew observed another aircraft performing a missed approach procedure following a failed landing.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the breakdown in communication between the flight crew and air traffic control services. The investigation established that the crew was unable to maintain continuous contact with the controllers during the critical phase of entering the runway.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a temporary blockage of the onboard radio stations, which prevented the crew from maintaining real-time communication with air traffic control.
- This communication failure resulted in a delay in the crew's ability to execute instructions provided by the controllers.
- An immediate inspection of the aircraft's radio equipment was conducted following the event, which revealed no technical malfunctions or irregularities.