Reporting Aviation Occurrences in the UAE
The Air Accident Investigation Sector encourages the prompt reporting of aviation occurrences to ensure the highest levels of safety and compliance. Reporting allows the AAIS to respond quickly, investigate effectively, and prevent future accidents.
What to Report
You should
immediately report the following to the Duty Investigator (DI):
-
Accidents – any event where an aircraft is damaged, destroyed, or results in serious injury or fatality.
-
Serious Incidents – such as:
- Near collisions or runway incursions
- Collisions not classified as accidents
- Controlled flight into terrain narrowly avoided
- Takeoffs or landings on incorrect or closed runways
- Fires, smoke, or use of crew oxygen in flight
- In-flight crew incapacitation
- Emergency fuel situations
- Severe turbulence, icing, or loss of control events
-
Other safety-critical events, for example:
- Evacuations using emergency systems
- Passenger oxygen mask deployment
- Engine or structural failures
- Significant damage caused to third-party property
- Drones or unlawful interference affecting aircraft safety
When reporting, please include: aircraft type and registration, operator, flight details, location, number of occupants, nature of injuries, damage, and any dangerous goods on board.
How to Report
Duty Investigator (Security – AVSEC): +971 50 642 4911 | AVSEC-DI@gcaa.gov.ae
If in doubt, report the occurrence immediately. The Duty Investigator will determine whether it requires a formal investigation.
Please ensure flight recorders (CVR/FDR) are preserved and not reused until cleared by the AAIS.
What Should Not Be Reported
The following do
not need to be reported to the GCAA externally:
- Routine technical defects or reliability issues with no safety impact
- Minor day-to-day operational anomalies
- PAN calls made only for medical reasons or to expedite an approach (unless a safety risk was involved)
These should still be tracked and analyzed
internally by operators as part of their safety management systems.
Remember: When in doubt, it is always better to report. Every occurrence reported contributes to improving aviation safety in the UAE.
For more information, refer to the official regulations and guidance published by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA):
-
Aircraft Accident & Incident Investigation Regulation (AAIR)
-
Civil Aviation Regulation – Occurrence Reporting (CAR-OCR, Issue 01, Jan 2025)
These documents are aligned with ICAO Annex 13 and provide the full legal and procedural framework for reporting occurrences in the UAE.