India’s Aviation Regulator Warns of High-Risk Airspaces in Middle East
NEW DELHI – India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an immediate advisory on Saturday, urging airlines to avoid flying over nine Middle Eastern countries amid escalating regional tensions. The directive comes following recent military strikes by the United States and Israel within Iranian territory, prompting Iran to announce retaliatory measures, creating what the DGCA describes as a “high-risk environment for civil aviation.”
The nine airspaces to be avoided include those of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Airlines are instructed to “refrain from operating within the affected airspace…at all flight levels and altitudes.”
While flights over Oman and Saudi Arabia are still permitted, the DGCA stipulated that Indian airlines operating in those airspaces must maintain a flight level of 32,000 feet or higher.
The advisory, effective immediately, is currently valid until March 28th, but will be subject to review based on further developments. Airlines are also instructed to ensure their flight crews are updated with the latest Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) detailing airspace restrictions.
The DGCA emphasized that any continuation of operations within the affected airspaces is at the discretion of individual airlines, contingent upon a thorough safety risk assessment. Furthermore, flights to airports within the region, where international carriers continue to operate, must include “robust contingency planning to cover all eventualities” as part of those safety assessments.
This advisory reflects growing international concern over the potential for wider conflict in the Middle East. The situation presents “critical hazards to civil flight operations,” according to the DGCA.
A recent report from news.abplive.com highlights the severity of the situation, flagging the nine airspaces as particularly vulnerable. https://news.abplive.com/business/dgca-air-travel-alert-9-high-risk-airspaces-west-asia-war-flight-safety-warning-avoid-iran-israel-iraq-routes-1832107
A breaking news update on YouTube further details the DGCA’s advisory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3OL6wcYamE
The regulator’s move underscores the increasing need for vigilance in global air travel as geopolitical instability rises. MSN News also reported on the DGCA’s directive, emphasizing the need for contingency plans. https://news.google.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