French aviation safety authorities have launched an investigation following a serious incident at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) involving a Nouvelair Airbus A320-200 and an easyJet A320-200.
On September 22, 2025, the French Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot said that a collision between the two aircraft was “narrowly avoided” during the incident on September 21, 2025.
“I immediately requested that an investigation be opened by the Bureau d’enquêtes et d’analyses (BEA) to shed full light on the precise circumstances of this event,” said Minister Tabarot.
According to data from flightradar24, the easyJet A320, registered OE-IJZ, was lined up on runway 04R ready for departure to Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE).
At around the same time, the Nouvelair A320, registered TS-INP, was approaching Nice after flying from Tunis Carthage International Airport (TUN).
Shortly after 21:30, local time, the Nouvelair plane passed above the waiting easyJet aircraft and was forced to initiate a go around.
According to French website Actu Nice, an eyewitness reported that the Nouvelair A320 was “three meters above” the easyJet aircraft at the time.
“The altitude reported by the Nouvelair flight as it passed over the easyJet A320 was 50 feet,” said flightradar24.
BEA investigators were dispatched to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport following the incident to gather evidence on how the incident occurred.
After completing its go around, the Nouvelair A320 landed on runway 04L, which had been used exclusively by arriving aircraft all evening, according to flightradar24.
Media reports have said that the easyJet A320 “severely shook” when the Nouvelair flight passed above.
Speaking to Le Figaro, a passenger on the easyJet plane said: “We saw the head pilot leave the cockpit, he was crying, and his hands were shaking.”
The easyJet flight returned to the apron around 23:45 where passengers and crew disembarked. The flight was subsequently cancelled.
According to The Connexion, weather conditions may have contributed. They were described as “stormy” with “thick fog”.
The Nouvelair A320 left Nice for Tunisia on September 22, 2025, while the easyJet plane is due to leave Nice for Nantes at around 20:40 on September 23, 2025.
