Global aviation body warns of growing risks to civilian aircraft amid conflicts
Russian passenger plane (photo: Getty Images)
The risk of civilian aircraft being hit or caught in crossfire due to active hostilities has increased significantly. Countries have been urged to strengthen the protection of their aircraft, the International Civil Aviation Organization said.
The international organization noted that passenger aviation is facing an increased threat due to the active use of modern weapons. Flight safety is threatened by long-range weapon systems, the widespread use of drones, and advanced air defense systems.
In addition, regular radio frequency interference that disrupts the operation of the Global Navigation Satellite System has become a serious problem.
Airspace protection
Although the aviation industry is able to quickly reroute flights around conflicts, each country must continuously assess the level of threat in its airspace.
The International Civil Aviation Organization noted that, in order to prevent tragedies, United Nations member states are required to quickly share intelligence on any potential risks.
International aviation also requires significantly improved coordination between civilian and military authorities. This is necessary to prevent the military from mistakenly identifying a civilian passenger aircraft as a hostile target.
In this regard, the International Civil Aviation Organization has already begun updating its official instructions and guidance on assessing risks to civilian aviation in and near conflict zones.
What preceded this
On Wednesday, September 2, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Ukraine had issued an official warning to the International Civil Aviation Organization about the closure of Russian airspace. He noted that Russian airspace is dangerous for civilian aviation due to increased military activity.
According to the minister, Russia is deliberately ignoring the existing threats resulting from its aggression against Ukraine. Sybiha noted that this has already led to several incidents in recent years.
