BEA reviews runway lighting after Nice near-collision

French investigators looking into a serious proximity event at Nice are assessing whether runway lighting requirements and the use of surface-movement radar could be improved. The occurrence, on 21 September 2025, involved a Nouvelair Airbus A320 which lined up with runway 04R after being cleared for the parallel 04L.

The aircraft overflew an EasyJet A320 that was lined up on 04R waiting to depart. According to the investigation, it missed the waiting jet by a few metres before carrying out a go-around.

The BEA, France's investigation authority, says it has already established the broad circumstances of the incident, and has been working through technical and operational factors that may have played a part. That work has covered approaches to the runways, including area navigation and visual manoeuvring on prescribed tracks, and the effect of the lighting on 04L and 04R on how those approaches are flown.

In January the BEA brought in the Hyeres Gendarmerie's helicopter division to re-enact a night flight and study the lighting situation. EasyJet supplied an aircraft and crew for the recreation, which also drew on support from the Nice airport operator and the air traffic service. The French civil aviation engineering arm STAC separately analysed the characteristics of the runway lighting and how it is perceived.

The BEA says its work has identified possibilities for improvement in European regulatory requirements for airport lighting and in procedures for checking it. It also points to the use of the airport's surface-movement and guidance system, and to crew familiarity with certain aerodrome specificities. The authority has been reviewing the design of approaches to Nice and how often runway confusion has occurred there previously. It notes that these points may change as the work continues.