What happened
On June 13, 2024, at 16:28 local time, a separation incident occurred at Palma de Mallorca Airport involving two aircraft. The first aircraft, a Dassault Aviation Falcon 2000EX with registration OY-MGO, operated by Air Alsie, was performing an IFR commercial passenger flight on final approach to runway 24L.
Simultaneously, an Eurocopter AS355N helicopter, registration EC-KPQ, operated by Helitrans Pyrinees, was conducting a VFR low-altitude utility flight for power line inspections. This mission was part of a contract for Red Eléctrica Española to inspect electrical infrastructure in the Balearic Islands. The flight path required the helicopter to operate within the Palma ATZ and CTR, crossing the localizers for runways 24R and 24L.
As the helicopter moved east from the Son Orlandís substation, it followed an electrical line that ran parallel to the 24L localizer. For approximately three minutes, the helicopter crossed the 24R localizer and moved toward the 24L localizer, bringing it into close proximity with the approaching jet. At 16:28:24, the helicopter pilot initiated a 36/degree turn with a sharp left bank to avoid the jet. At the moment of closest approach, the aircraft were separated by only 0.1 NM horizontally and 300 ft vertically near the 24R runway threshold.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the management and planning of the electrical line inspection operations by ENAIRE. The investigators examined the coordination between the various air traffic control units involved, the flight trajectories of both aircraft, and the decision-making processes of both flight crews during the conflict.