You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Tuesday 9 January 2024 |
| Time: | 11:26 |
| Type: |  Boeing 737 MAX 8 |
| Owner/operator: | flydubai |
| Registration: | A6-FME |
| MSN: | 60970/6699 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2017 |
| Engine model: | CFMI CFM LEAP-1B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Category: | Serious incident |
| Location: | near Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB/VCBI) -
 Sri Lanka
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB/VCBI) |
| Malé-Velana International Airport (MLE/VRMM) | |
| Investigating agency: | CAASL |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
A Boeing 737 MAX 8 (A6-FME) operating as flydubai flight FZ1026, a scheduled flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Malé, Maldives was issued clear instructions by Colombo Approach Control to follow the Standard Instrument Departure (SID) procedure. These instructions were communicated twice. The Pilot in Command of FZ1026 confirmed receipt of these instructions by reading back the clearance to the controller. However, the aircraft subsequently failed to comply with the vertical restrictions mandated by the SID, resulting in a reduced separation from another aircraft, SriLankan Airlines flight UL122, an Airbus A330-243 (4R-ALS) which was operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) which had originated from Chennai, India to Colombo, Sri Lanka. As the loss of separation developed, the air traffic controller responded by providing traffic information to both aircraft. FZ1026 acknowledged the information; however, the aircraft had already
climbed to an altitude of 4,300 feet, triggering the Short-Term Conflict Alert (STCA) in the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system. At the same time, UL122 maintained an altitude of 5,000 feet marking the point where the separation breach occurred.
Causes
1. Pilot Non-Compliance: The failure of the PIC of FDB1026 to adhere to ATC instructions raises questions about decision-making authority and situational awareness in high-pressure environments. As outlined in aviation regulations, the PIC holds ultimate responsibility for flight safety and must comply with operational procedures unless safety dictates otherwise.
2. Judgmental Error- The perceived expectation of the ATC that FDB1026 would continue to adhere to the vertical profile of the SID, despite the data depicted on the actual vertical profile of the aircraft predicted otherwise. Further, expecting the required minimum separation would be achieved through the spatial profile displacement of the aircraft which would not warrant the ATC intervention to resolve.
3. ATC Communication Dynamics: The effectiveness of communication between ATC and pilots is crucial for maintaining safe separation. In this incident, distractions within the ATCenvironment have compromised the controller’s ability to manage traffic effectively.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/serious-incident-to-the-airbus-a330-registered-4r-als-operated-by-srilankan-airlines-and-the-boeing-737-registered-a6-fme-operated-by-flydubai-on-09-01-2024-near-bandaranaike/
CAASL
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Feb-2024 13:15 | ASN | Added |
| 26-May-2024 06:02 | Prometheus | Updated [Operator, Location, ] |
| 24-Feb-2025 10:37 | Prometheus | Updated [Phase, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 24-Feb-2025 10:39 | ASN | Updated [Narrative, Accident report, ] |
| 12-May-2025 07:46 | Prometheus | Updated [Location, ] |
| 13-May-2025 11:47 | Prometheus | Updated [Location, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation