Air traffic controller’s judgement call moments before Mangalore plane crash

An air traffic controller overseeing airspace where a deadly collision killed four pilots says he chose not to notify the group about a safety alert moments before the tragedy.

An air traffic controller says he made a “judgement call” not to issue a safety warning to two planes before they collided mid-air because he thought they would pass each other.

Bendigo pilot Chris Gobel, 79, was instructing Pasinee Meeseang, 27, when their Piper Seminole aircraft crashed into a Beechcraft Travel Air plane carrying Peter Phillips, 47, and his student Ido Segev, 30, about 8km south of Mangalore Airport in central Victoria — killing all four pilots.

The aircraft — which were conducting training and instrument test flights — collided at about 4100 feet, while the Beechcraft Travel Air was descending and the Piper Seminole was ascending at 11:24am on February 19, 2020.

Air traffic controller John Tucker, leaves the Coroner’s Court, on the first day of a four-day inquest into the deaths of four pilots in 2020. Picture: NCA Newswire / Nicki Connolly

Air traffic controller John Tucker, who was overseeing the airspace where the collision took place, told a Coroners Court inquest on Monday he received a short-term conflict alert shortly before the collision but made a “judgement call” not to notify the pilots.

A STCA notifies air traffic controllers when minimum separation distances between aircraft are predicted to be breached.

Brianna Sutcliffe, the fiance of pilot Ido Segev, who died in a mid-air collision near Mangalore Airport. Picture: NCA Newswire

“I assessed the planes were going to pass and it wasn’t appropriate to issue a safety alert,” Mr Tucker said.

He said air traffic controllers were “desensitised” to the alerts, which required individual assessment before further action was taken, due to the large volume they received.

Air traffic information was provided to both planes about the movements of the other aircraft, Mr Tucker said, and he believed they were “talking to each other” on a radio frequency only used by pilots.

“I can only assume the aircraft were not communicating to each other,” he said.

“If they were, I believe this tragic incident would’ve been avoided.”

Mr Tucker added he believed he had followed correct air traffic control procedures and he issued a distress message after he was unable to contact either aircraft.

The inquest is investigating the factors that led to the tragedy including the role of air traffic control, safety practices in different airspaces and if there was any communication between the aircraft.

Both planes were flying to instrumental flight rules and in uncontrolled airspace where pilots are responsible for ensuring self-separation from other aircraft.

Pilot Chris Gobel died in the light plane crash at Mangalore. Picture: supplied

Dozens of family members of the deceased pilots attended Monday’s hearing with some seen comforting each other as Mr Tucker gave evidence.

Outside court, Mr Segev’s fiancée Brianna Sutcliffe said they had plans to start a family after he had finished his pilot’s training.

“This accident has ruined so many lives including mine,” she said.

“I will not rest until I have received transparency regarding the events surrounding the loss of my soulmate.”

Maurice Blackburn special counsel Trang van Heugten, representing Ms Sutcliffe, said she hoped the inquest provided answers about what caused the collision.

“There were two very senior veteran highly respected pilots who died, there were two junior, young pilots who were at the prime of their lives,” she said.

“They had so much to look forward to and yet this incident occurred.

“In our view, it was avoidable.”

The inquest, which is expected to run for four days, continues.