Air Algérie’s Boeing 737 Mistakenly Approaches Toulouse’s Former Airport
Toulouse, a vibrant city in southern France with a population of around half a million and 1.4 million in the wider Haute-Garonne region, is home to a significant Algerian community—about one in fourteen residents trace their roots to Algeria. This strong demographic link explains why Air Algérie operates flights to Toulouse from three different Algerian airports, catering to the steady demand between the two regions.
On Tuesday, August 12, an Air Algérie Boeing 737-800, flight AH1076, departed punctually from Oran and headed towards Toulouse. After approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes in the air, the crew received clearance from air traffic control to land on runway 32L at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, the city’s main international gateway.
However, as the aircraft descended, the pilots inadvertently aligned the plane not with Toulouse-Blagnac but with the smaller, more southerly Toulouse-Francazal Airport. According to reports from La Dépêche du Midi, the jet, registered 7T-VKC, was lined up for runway 29 at Francazal, which is only 1,800 meters long—significantly shorter and unsuitable for commercial airliners like the 737. The plane descended to about 750 meters before the crew realized the error.
Upon recognizing the mistake, the pilots promptly applied thrust and climbed back to 1,200 meters, notifying air traffic control of the situation. They then circled over Toulouse before correctly approaching and landing safely at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.
This incident underscores the operational challenges posed by cities served by multiple airports, especially when one is no longer used for scheduled commercial flights. Toulouse-Francazal Airport has not hosted regular passenger services for 14 years and now primarily serves business and private aviation. Established in 1923, it was Toulouse’s first airport but has since been eclipsed by the larger and more modern Toulouse-Blagnac, located about 6.7 kilometers northwest of the city center.
While Toulouse-Blagnac handles millions of passengers annually and is a hub for both domestic and international flights, Francazal caters to general aviation, flight training, and aerospace industry activities. Its proximity and runway orientation can create confusion, particularly under certain visual conditions or pilot workload pressures.
For African carriers like Air Algérie, which maintain vital links between Algeria and France, such incidents highlight the importance of rigorous navigation protocols and situational awareness. The airline’s extensive network to Toulouse reflects the deep cultural and economic ties between the Algerian diaspora and southern France, making Toulouse a key destination in their European operations.
As African aviation continues to expand its footprint in Europe, understanding the nuances of multi-airport cities and ensuring operational precision will be critical. This event serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in flight operations and the need for continuous training and coordination between flight crews and air traffic control to maintain safety and efficiency.
