Close call between USAF KC-135 and EVA airliner

ADS-B data captured by planefinder.net on Jan. 13 shows a U.S. Air Force KC-135 aerial refueling tanker (PEARL50) coming less than 1,000ft vertically with EVA Air flight BR225 as both airplanes cross path south of Taiwan that morning.

An audio recording purported to be by Taipei air traffic control was circulated on social media. We can hear clearly that the female controller was telling the unidentified aircraft squawking on 1400 over KABAM that it was interfering with Taipei FIR and the crew is to contact Taipei ATC on frequency 127.9. Data from ADS-B Exchange shows that PERAL50 was squawking on 1400 that day.

ICAO rules specify that aircraft flying above FL290 are to maintain a vertical separation of 2,000ft. In this situation, both aircraft were less than 1,000ft apart vertically.