Indian Pilots Urge Halt to Flights in West Asia Conflict Zones

The Airline Pilots Association of India has called on aviation authorities to immediately suspend commercial flights into high-risk conflict zones in West Asia, citing grave dangers to passengers and crew amid the escalating regional war.

In letters dated March 27 and 28 to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Civil Aviation Ministry, the association described ongoing operations, particularly by Air India to Gulf destinations, as a serious threat. The conflict, which began on February 28 with Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has prompted Iranian retaliation and drawn in neighboring countries. This has led to widespread airspace restrictions, flight cancellations, and delays across the region.

The pilots group argued that flying near active war zones amounts to willful endangerment of human life. They criticized a March 19 safety advisory from the DGCA, which instructed airlines to conduct their own risk assessments before operating in affected areas. According to the association, commercial carriers lack the necessary intelligence, surveillance, and geopolitical expertise to evaluate such threats accurately. "Such...