The Association of Indian Airlines Pilots (ALPA India) has raised urgent safety concerns over the continued operation of commercial flights to conflict-affected areas in West Asia, warning that such decisions could put people’s lives at risk and require immediate government intervention.
In a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the pilots body said operating flights “into or near an active war zone” poses a serious and unacceptable risk to passengers, crew and aircraft, and described such decisions as “deliberate endangerment of human life.”
ALPA India said it had earlier reported the issue on March 18, following which the DGCA issued a safety advisory on March 19 asking airlines to conduct their own risk assessments.
However, the association criticized this approach, arguing that risk assessment in a conflict zone should be led by governments and not left to individual airlines.
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Referring to global aviation standards, the pilot body noted that while the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) allows operators to conduct their own assessments, active conflict zones require “centralized and reliable oversight” and timely communication by state authorities.
She added that airlines lack the intelligence and surveillance capabilities needed to assess threats in war-like situations.
The association also cited concerns about the lack of clarity regarding war risk insurance coverage for pilots operating on such routes. She added that crew members had requested confirmation of whether insurance was still valid in conflict zones, but no guarantee or official documentation had been provided yet, raising questions about liability and protection in the event of an accident.
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ALPA India also pointed to previous incidents in which civilian aircraft were shot down during conflicts, including Iran Air Flight 655, Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114, and Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, to underscore the risks involved in operating near war zones.
In its letter, the pilots body urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to take immediate steps, including:
- Suspension of flights to high-risk conflict areas until a comprehensive risk assessment is conducted
- Issuing clear and binding operational guidelines in line with global best practices
- Launching an investigation into Air India’s decision-making process, including operational roles and crew scheduling
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- Ensure full disclosure and verification of insurance coverage, especially war risk items
The association requested an urgent response from the regulatory body and warned that it may take legal action, including resorting to the courts, if the problem is not addressed.
“The safety of human life must remain paramount and non-negotiable in all aviation operations,” the letter stated.
There was no immediate response from the ministry and the regulator.
