Dubai: A double-decker plane from Dubai nearly collided with another aircraft recently when it was descending to land at an airport in Mauritius.

The Mauritius Air Traffic Control had already cleared the Air Seychelles flight for take-off around the same time that Emirates flight EK 703 was cleared to descend at 38,000 feet.
According to Aviation Herald, the world’s largest passenger plane instead descended to 36,000 feet and headed towards the path of the Air Seychelles flight.

The pilot of the Air Seychelles plane had to make a sharp turn to dodge a collision over the Indian Ocean.

Air Seychelles has commended its two pilots for averting a major disaster.

“We commend our Captain Roberto Vallicelli and Seychellois First Officer Ronny Morel who were operating the HM054 flight from Mauritius to Seychelles on the evening of Friday 14 July 2017,” the carrier said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the UAE airline said in a separate statement shared to local media: “Emirates has received reports of an event on July 14, 2017 in relation to aircraft separation involving flight EK-703 in Mauritius airspace.”

“The matter has been reported to the respective air transport authorities and Emirates will extend its full cooperation to any investigation. The safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance.”