2024-11-06 16:42:00
Uan internal investigation at the national company made it possible to avoid creating a no fly zone moreover with the flight over the Red Sea. This obligatory passage of direct flights from France to Reunion, Mauritius, Madagascar and Nairobi required a bypass with an additional hour and fifteen minutes of flight time. This measure, which had not been followed by Air Austral, Corsair or French Bee, has just been lifted today. It was taken when, on Sunday, November 3, the crew of an Air France Paris-Antananarivo flight saw a luminous object that could resemble a ballistic missile flying above Sudan at high altitude.
Two planes had turned around
The AF934 had turned around, as had the AF814 Paris-Nairobi, the planes returning to Roissy-CDG. Could Houthi attacks in the Red Sea affect air transport activity after maritime traffic? These Yemeni rebels target civilian or military ships using the Red Sea, significantly disrupting maritime routes that use the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal.
ALSO READ Why Yemen’s Houthi rebels threaten global maritime trade
To Discover
Answer
Faced with the silence of the supervisory aeronautical authorities (Civil Aviation Risk Analysis Center), it was not possible to decide between a natural phenomenon (shooting star) or the entry of a satellite into the atmosphere. At Air France, management had already been burned by another event on 1is october. A plane leaving Roissy-CDG for Dubai flew over Iraqi territory at the time when Iran launched its missile attack towards Israel. The crew saw the machines crossing its path. The civilian aircraft took the regulatory route, known as the Iraqi corridor, which avoids overflight of Israel and Iran.
Nearly a quarter of the globe is no longer flyable since the ban on Russia, the conflict zone in Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. Air routes to Asia are becoming more and more complex and lengthened by various restrictions. In Africa, if overflight of Mali is permitted, Air France service is not authorized and Corsair must charter a foreign company because it cannot find willing pilots to go to Bamako. Libya remains closed to commercial aircraft.
What threats to airliners
International aeronautical authorities classify risks according to different categories of missiles and devices. When cruising, airliners fly at more than 10,000 meters (level 320).
- The most common are Manpads which are worn on the shoulder. They are easily found on the black market but they do not exceed level 100. On the other hand, they can be dangerous when taking off and landing an aircraft near an aerodrome.
- Surface-to-air missiles remain below level 320.
- Drones do not exceed level 150.
- Ballistic missiles take off and climb to 100 or 150 km altitude before falling. Two trajectories to avoid…
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**Interview with Dr. Sarah Thompson, Aviation Security Expert**
**Host:** Welcome, Dr. Thompson! Thank you for joining us today to discuss the impact of recent events in the Red Sea on air travel safety.
**Dr. Thompson:** Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Host:** Let’s start with the recent incident involving Air France flights returning to Roissy-CDG after witnessing a possible missile over Sudan. How serious is the threat posed by the Houthis in this region?
**Dr. Thompson:** The Houthis have indeed become a significant concern not just for maritime traffic, but also for air travel in the Red Sea area. Their attacks on civilian and military vessels have raised alarms, prompting precautionary measures such as the temporary no-fly zone. The perceived threat from missile activity, especially in areas adjacent to air routes, can lead airlines to take drastic steps to ensure passenger safety.
**Host:** You mentioned the no-fly zone. What were its implications for airlines and passengers?
**Dr. Thompson:** The no-fly zone meant that flights had to reroute significantly, adding up to an hour and fifteen minutes to travel times for certain routes. This not only inconvenienced passengers but also had economic implications for airlines, increasing operational costs. Thankfully, the no-fly order has been lifted for now, but it indicates how sensitive the situation is.
**Host:** How are aviation authorities responding to these crises?
**Dr. Thompson:** Aviation authorities typically rely on intelligence from multiple sources, including military and civil aviation, to make informed decisions. In this case, the lack of immediate clarification about the luminous object seen by the Air France crew reflects the complexity of threat assessment in such regions. They often have to weigh the dangers of natural phenomena versus aggressive actions, which complicates their response.
**Host:** Given the recent uptick in Houthi attacks, do you foresee lasting changes in how airlines operate in this region?
**Dr. Thompson:** Absolutely. Airlines are likely to reassess their routes and flight protocols due to the increased risk. Even with the no-fly zone lifted, the threat has prompted an ongoing reevaluation of safety measures. We might see a trend towards more frequent rerouting of flights, additional training for crews on what to do in these situations, and better communication protocols with ground control.
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Thompson, for your insights. It’s clear that the situation remains fluid and complex, and we appreciate your expertise on how it affects air travel.
**Dr. Thompson:** Thank you for having me! It’s crucial to keep public awareness high on these issues as they unfold.
