TCAS prevents potential mid-air collision between Iberia A321XLR and Air Europa 787 over Atlantic

A potential mid-air collision between an Iberia Airbus A321XLR registered EC-OLE and an Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner registered EC-ODH over the Atlantic Ocean was averted on 10 July 2026 after both aircraft received Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) Resolution Advisories (RAs), prompting immediate evasive action.

According to The Aviation Herald, Iberia flight IB140, operating from Recife to Madrid, and Air Europa flight UX57, flying from Madrid to São Paulo, were both cruising at FL360 on the same airway near the West Saharan coast when the incident occurred at approximately 01:22 UTC. Both aircraft had reportedly been cleared by air traffic control to maintain the same flight level despite travelling in opposite directions.

The onboard TCAS system—an independent safety system designed to prevent mid-air collisions when aircraft come into conflict—issued Resolution Advisories in both cockpits. The Iberia A321XLR descended while the Air Europa 787 climbed, restoring safe separation between the aircraft. Both flights subsequently continued to their destinations and landed without further incident.

The circumstances that led to the conflicting clearances have not yet been explained. The incident is expected to be investigated, as opposite-direction aircraft operating at the same altitude on an oceanic route represent a serious breakdown in air traffic separation. The successful activation of TCAS, widely regarded as aviation’s last line of defence against mid-air collisions, prevented what could have been a catastrophic accident.