What happened
On December 26, 2021, at approximately 16:50 UTC, two Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Gol Linhas Aéreas S.A. were taxiing at Aeroporto Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães (SBSV) in Salvador, Brazil. The first aircraft, PR-GUZ (a Boeing 737-8EH), had landed from Recife and was instructed to taxi via taxiway J3 toward gate 14R. Two minutes later, the second aircraft, PR-GIH (a Boeing 73 and 76N), landed from Rio de Janeiro and was instructed to taxi via taxiway J2 toward gate 08.
As the aircraft proceeded, the PR-GIH maintained a higher taxi speed than the PR-GUZ. As they approached the apron, the distance between taxiways J2 and J3 narrowed. To prevent a collision, the crew of the PR-GIH performed an emergency stop. There were no injuries to the 315 total occupants on board the two aircraft, and no damage was sustained by either airframe.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the ground movement instructions provided by the Salvador Tower (TWR-SV) and the validity of existing airport procedures. The investigation examined the Air Traffic Controller's (ATCO) instructions, the operational video from airport cameras, and the regulatory documents governing the airport's recent reconfiguration.
Investigators found that while the ATCO was properly licensed and the weather conditions were visual, there was a significant discrepancy between the airport's official safety risk reduction document (REGRSO) and the physical reality of the taxiway layout. The investigation also reviewed the ATCO's failure to provide essential local traffic information and the pilot's failure to follow specific taxiway entry instructions.