Mahan A313 over Syria on Jul 23rd 2020, upset as result of intercept by fighter aircraft
Last Update: August 7, 2020 / 18:15:21 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Jul 23, 2020
Classification
Accident
Airline
Mahan Air
Flight number
W5-1152
Departure
Tehran Imam Khomeini, Iran
Destination
Beirut, Lebanon
Aircraft Registration
EP-MNF
Aircraft Type
Airbus A310-300
ICAO Type Designator
A313
Reports as to what fighter aircraft caused the upset are unclear, there are unverified claims of Israeli or US fighter aircraft. Iran's State TV IRIB claims the fighter aircraft were Israeli aircraft, Syria's states controlled Arab News Agency SANA however reported the fighter aircraft were US ones.
Medical Services (Red Cross) in Beirut reported no passengers needed to be taken to a hospital, a number was treated mainly for shock.
In the early morning hours of Jul 24th 2020 (UTC) CENTCOM, the US Central Military Command, reported, one F-15 was on a routine mission over southern Syria near the al Tanf garrison in southern Syria (located about 12nm east of the 16:14:43 position of the aircraft) and was dispatched to conduct an inspection of the airliner to ensure safety of coalition personnel at al Tanf. When the F-15 identified the aircraft as a passenger plane, the F-15 maintained safe distance of about 1000 meters. The intercept was done in accordance with international standards, however, it appears it caused the Iranian pilots to carry out a sudden and unexpected altitude change.
On Jul 29th 2020 The Aviation Herald learned that the Mahan crew reacted to a TCAS resolution advisory to climb. The occurrence is being investigated by Syrian Authorities.
On Jul 29th 2020 Syria's Civil Aviation Authority reported the Mahan aircraft was enroute near Al Tanf when it was intercepted by US fighter aircraft. The A313 was tracking within the approved international corridor that links Iraq to Lebanon and Cyprus via Syria and is published on all international maps. The Airbus was in contact with Damascus Area Control Center. The intercept was in violation of international agreements regulating air navigation. Syria have informed ICAO about the occurrence.
On Aug 7th 2020 Syria's Civil Aviation Authority reported the A313 had just entered Syrian Air Space between MODIK and TAN waypoints, when the crew received a TCAS resolution advisory to climb and applied a high rate of climb. The crew then stopped the climb to prevent a collision with a military aircraft which caused the injuries to some persons on board. The occurrence was rated an accident, the highest injury level was serious. The aircraft did not receive any damage.
Al Tanf Garrison is located at N33.50 E38.62. When the A313 was at FL346 at 16:14:43Z, the aircraft was at position N33.50 E38.82 about 12.6nm east of Al Tanf, about a minute later at its closest distance to Al Tanf the aircraft was at position N33.55 E38.68 about 4.8nm northeast of Al Tanf.
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Jul 23, 2020
Classification
Accident
Airline
Mahan Air
Flight number
W5-1152
Departure
Tehran Imam Khomeini, Iran
Destination
Beirut, Lebanon
Aircraft Registration
EP-MNF
Aircraft Type
Airbus A310-300
ICAO Type Designator
A313
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
Mahan E145 at Yasuj on Dec 13th 2023, engine problem
A Mahan Air Embraer ERJ-145, registration EP-MEO performing flight W5-4523 from Yasuj to Tehran Mehrabad (Iran) with 46 people on board, was in the…
Fleet type match
Mahan A346 near Almaty on Mar 5th 2023, engine fire indication
A Mahan Air Airbus A340-600, registration EP-MMR performing flight W5-79 from Tehran Imam Khomeini (Iran) to Beijing (China), was enroute at FL370…
Fleet type match
Mahan A346 near Kish on Dec 26th 2022, unplanned landing, family of former Iranian footballer taken for questioning
A Mahan Air Airbus A340-600, registration EP-MMQ performing flight W5-63 from Teheran Imam Khomeini (Iran) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates), was…
Fleet type match
Mahan A313 at Istanbul on Dec 24th 2015, failed to stop at stand
A Mahan Air Airbus A310-300, registration EP-MNP performing flight W5-112 from Tehran Imam Khomeini (Iran) to Istanbul (Turkey) with 166 people on…
Fleet type match
Mahan A313 at Yerevan on May 26th 2019, overran displaced end of runway
A Mahan Air Airbus A310-300, registration EP-MNV performing flight W5-1150 from Tehran Imam Khomeini (Iran) to Yerevan (Armenia) with 169 passengers…
Newest articles
Laser MD83 at Caracas on Apr 28th 2024, smoke in cabin after landing
A Laser Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83, registration YV3465 performing flight QL-943 from Maracaibo to Caracas (Venezuela) with 91 people on board,…
Fleet type match
FlyNAS A20N at Riyadh on Apr 28th 2024, runway excursion on landing
A FlyNAS Airbus A320-200N, registration HZ-NS45 performing flight XY-224 from Doha (Qatar) to Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), landed on Riyadh's runway 15L at…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner
A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.
ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
Your regulation partner, specialists in aviation safety and compliance; providing training, auditing, and consultancy services. Find out more.
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways