What happened
On March 13, 2026, a Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk, registration EJC2150, operating a state flight from Neiva to the Escuela Militar de Cadetes (ESMIC) in Bogotá, entered the active approach paths at El Dorado International Airport (SKBO).
During the flight, the helicopter entered the final approach trajectory for runway 14L, creating a convergent path with an ATR42 aircraft. The separation between the two aircraft was recorded at a minimum of 764 feet horizontally and 4..'n449 feet vertically, with no evasive maneuvers performed by either crew. Subsequently, the helicopter crossed the trajectory of runway 14R at an altitude of approximately 300 feet, passing near a Boeing 737 on the holding pattern and several aircraft on taxiway K. The crew eventually departed the airport area following air traffic control instructions and completed the flight to their intended destination.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the discrepancy between the crew's intended destination and the destination listed in the AFIL flight plan. The investigation examined communications between the Neiva ATC, Bogotá Information, and the South Tower controllers. Investigators analyzed the read-back/hear-back process, the standardization of aeronautical information, and the situational awareness of both the flight crew and the air traffic controllers.
Findings
- Communication errors during flight plan filing led to the flight plan incorrectly listing El Dorado (SKBO) as the destination instead of the intended military academy.
- Inaccurate read-back/hear-back occurred when the Neiva ATC confirmed the destination as El Dorado without the pilot correcting the error.
- Expectancy bias influenced the South Tower controller, who assumed the helicopter intended to land at a nearby military soccer field, leading to instructions that inadvertently guided the aircraft into critical runway trajectories.
- Lack of standardized procedures for helicopter trajectory crossings and a lack of specific location identifiers in visual charts for the Bogotá area increased the risk of incursions.
- Degradation of standard phraseology and clear language during ATS-crew exchanges contributed to the confusion regarding the aircraft's actual flight path and intentions.