Mid-air collision jet had near-identical earlier incident

Senegalese investigators have detailed several occurrences involving incorrect altimeter readings on the British Aerospace 125 jet involved in a fatal mid-air collision with a Boeing 737-800. None of the seven occupants of the Senegalair BAe125 survived after it crashed into the sea off the West African coast nearly 1h after the impact on 5 September 2015. Investigation authority BEA has concentrated on an apparent 1,000ft discrepancy between the aircraft's altitude, as stated by the crew, and that transmitted by the jet's transponder. The inquiry believes the BAe 125, as a result, was travelling in the opposite direction to the Ceiba Intercontinental 737 at the same altitude of 35,000ft. While the BAe 125's flight-data recorder was not recovered, the inquiry has uncovered evidence of previous similar altimeter problems on the 36-year old aircraft. These issues, in particular, included another serious conflict, with an Arik Air 737, on 23 July 2015 – six weeks before the Ceiba collision. Story has more details.<br/>