What happened
On May 20, 2008, at 02:27 UTC, a British Airways flight, operating a commercial service from Bridgetown (TBPB) to London Gatwick (EGKK), experienced an Air Traffic Management (ATM) incident within the Santa Maria Flight Information Region (LPPO). The aircraft, a Boeing 777, was cleared by Santa Maria Air Traffic Control to descend from FL390 to FL360 between the 45ºN and 46ºN parallels.
However, the flight crew initiated the descent approximately 85 nautical miles before reaching the 45ºN parallel. This premature descent resulted in a reduction of separation between the British Airways flight and two other aircraft: flight AZA-643, traveling from Newark (KEWR) to Rome (LIRF) at FL360, and flight USA-718, traveling from Philadelphia (KPHI) to Rome (LIRF) at FL380.
The investigation
The GPIAAF did not initiate a formal investigation into the incident. Instead, the agency forwarded all available information to the United Kingdom's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and expressed its readiness to assist with any necessary collaborative efforts. As no further information or requests for cooperation were received by the agency, the case was closed.