What this relates to:
An aircraft crew taxiing on the apron or taxiway does not follow the taxi instructions, procedures or clearances. This can result in a near collision or collision with another aircraft, vehicle, infrastructure or obstacle.
Example:
An aircraft takes the wrong taxiway. The taxiway is not suitable for this type of aircraft, resulting in a wingtip hitting a pole.
Remarks on the 2024 figures:
335 incidents in this domain occurred on Swiss aerodromes during the reporting period. 80% of these cases are related to commercial aircraft, the remaining 20% concern general aviation.
About 90% of the reported incidents related to taxi clearance deviation or navigation errors with no impact or a small impact on safety. Most of the occurrences were caused by a misunderstanding about the issued clearance or a loss of orientation on an aerodrome with a complex apron and taxiway system. Navigation errors at large airports are also linked to their frequent maintenance works, which can lead to closing taxiways or changing procedures that confuse pilots. In only one case this year, adverse weather conditions were the cause of the navigation error due to reduced visibility.
Collisions involving two aircraft, an aircraft and a vehicle, or another type of obstacle during taxiing accounted for 4% of incidents. However, only 2% were classified as major incidents due to the extent of the damage caused. In commercial aviation transport, taxi clearance deviation or navigation errors are more frequent but with no impact or a small impact on safety. Because aircraft are under the supervision of the ATC or Apron Management, such deviations are generally identified promptly. Unfortunately, these collisions are more common in general aviation, as there is less guidance during taxiing. A collision can easily occur if the pilot is not sufficiently aware.
Last modification 14.05.2025
