Air safety concerns escalate in Nicosia FIR after near-miss incident

On August 19, 2026, a Turkish military Airbus A400M transport aircraft entered the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR) without communication with the Nicosia Area Control Center (ACC). The aircraft deviated from its filed flight plan, reaching an altitude of 36,000 feet, which resulted in a near-miss incident with a passenger Boeing 737. The European Transport Controllers' Union (ATCEUC) and the Pancyprian Air Traffic Controllers' Union (CYATCU/PASEEK) stated that only the timely intervention of air traffic controllers prevented a major disaster.

Following the incident, the ATCEUC and PASEEK have formally requested immediate intervention from international and European aviation authorities. During a joint session of the Cypriot Parliament's Defense and Transport Committees, stakeholders emphasized that Turkish military activity in the region remains a systemic risk, noting that Ankara continues to refuse direct communication with the Nicosia ACC. The unions argue that the current situation represents a fourteen-year institutional crisis rather than mere technical coordination issues.

Furthermore, the ATCEUC has urged President Nikos Christodoulides to expedite the establishment of a state-owned Air Navigation Service Provider (CyANS). The unions contend that this administrative reform is a strategic necessity to address chronic understaffing and align local procedures with European aviation safety standards.