B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Airport; Procedure; Human Factors
This event was a near midair collision in ZZZZ. On Aircraft X ZZZ to ZZZZ. Weather at ZZZZ was not a factor even though there was a significant storm cell over the final approach fix to Runway XX. ZZZZ was reporting 10 miles visibility. While making approach into ZZZZ we were told to go around due to previous aircraft reporting a pothole with gravel on approach end to Runway XX. Tower immediately closed the runway. We then went around and did published missed procedure. We entered holding at 8;000 feet at ZZZZZ per instructions. After we exited holding (now at 6;000 feet) the controller gave us instructions to go direct to ZZZZZ1 fix and begin RNP approach into Runway YY. We loaded the approach to the opposite Runway YY since the pothole was on the approach end of the Runway XX and proceeded to ZZZZZ1 on about a 200 heading. Then unexpectedly; the controller gave us a vector of 090. In hind sight; we think this vector was meant for another aircraft. The new heading of 090 ended up sending us directly for another aircraft at same altitude. TCAS began with a TA then an RA. At same time controller frantically gave us a new vector. After properly executing the resolution advisory; we narrowly missed the conflict aircraft and proceeded back to ZZZZZ1 and did the RNP to Runway YY for normal landing. We never saw the conflict aircraft however they did have us in sight; and I don't recall who the conflict aircraft was. There were two jets in holding. We think the controller got our call sign confused with someone else for the 090 vector. English as a second language may have been a factor in this event. Both the F/O (First Officer) and myself remember hearing our call sign in the 090 vector. In the end it was TCAS that saved the day.
B737-800 Captain reported a near midair collision while executing a go-around and took evasive action at a foreign airport.