On Tuesday, August 6th, 2026, an All Nippon Airways (ANA) Boeing 767 flight NH968 carrying 197 passengers and crew nearly collided with a Cessna 525C inspector jet operated by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) while descending into Tokyo’s Haneda Airport from Shanghai. Flight trajectory data showed the vertical separation between the two aircraft was only about 20 metres (66 feet) at the closest point.

The near miss was averted when the ANA plane’s traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) triggered, prompting the pilot to adjust course and avoid impact. However, the Cessna’s TCAS did not provide a similar warning. This discrepancy has drawn attention from aviation professionals in China, who see the incident as a critical case study for improving anti-collision technology and safety protocols.

Analysts noted that while China already has stringent safety measures in place to reduce the likelihood of such incidents, the event offers valuable lessons for Chinese regulators and operators. They emphasized that safety is crucial for China’s aviation ambitions and the future development of its domestic airliners.

Neither ANA nor JCAB immediately responded to requests for comment from the South China Morning Post.

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