"I don’t follow orders": Turkish Airlines pilot refuses to descend as instructed by ATC

At the end of December, a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul was approaching Muscat International Airport, the capital of Oman. The Airbus A321neo was concluding a flight that lasted more than four hours.

During the final approach, the air traffic controller instructed the crew to descend to 2,200 feet. However, the pilot refused to comply, citing company procedures and minimum vectoring altitude (MVA) charts, which indicated that in this sector, a safe altitude was no lower than 3,600 feet.

Muscat approach: “Sir, descend to 2,200, an accurate to my minimum, you are under vectoring, sir.”
Turkish Airlines pilot: “Unable to accept vectors due to company procedures, Turkish 2YJ. We can accept only 3,600, over MSA.”
Muscat approach: “The MSA is 2,200, Turkish 2YJ. You follow my orders. Instructions are instructions, sir.”
Turkish Airlines pilot: “I am sorry, I don’t follow anyone’s orders, we can talk about it once we are landed. I am sorry, I can only accept 3,600, you may sequence accordingly. I am sorry again.”
Muscat approach: “Turkish 2YJ, we’re not playing with safety, sir.”
Turkish Airlines pilot: “Can you vector me to establish from 3,600? Turkish 2YJ.”
Muscat approach: “Expect vectors and speed 210 now, and fly hearing 090, you’ll be number two.”

The conversation then returned to normal, though the topic of altitude came up again shortly afterward:

Muscat approach: “Turkish 2YJ, just to remind you, our safety is a major factor. If I give you an altitude, you must follow. Your company doesn’t know our rules, huh?”
Turkish Airlines pilot: “Yes, I will let my company to learn it, I am sorry for the inconvenience. I will do my best for them to get it also.”
Muscat approach: “It’s not really an inconvenience, 3,600 is GESOS altitude restriction, it’s not the minimum safe altitude. My minimum safe altitude is 2,200, I will not, I’m not playing with safety.”
Turkish Airlines pilot: “I know, but I don’t have your minimum safe altitude on my charts, that’s why I couldn’t descend, I will talk to my company to get your safe altitude in my aircraft.”

The pilot firmly stood his ground. In aviation, the final responsibility for safety always lies with the pilot-in-command. If an instruction from the ground contradicts the information available on board, the pilot has the right to decline it.

In the end, the aircraft landed safely in Muscat.