2 Air India flights cross Iranian airspace hours before attack
At least two Air India planes traversed the Iranian-controlled airspace just hours before Iran launched a large-scale aerial attack on Israel. The flights, identified as Air India 116 and 131, were en route from New York to Mumbai and Mumbai to London respectively on April 13 and April 14. Data from Flightradar24 showed that both of the planes crossed over the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, regions currently caught amidst tensions between Iran and Israel.
Why does this story matter?
Iran initiated an aerial attack on Israel, involving the launch of at least 300 drones and missiles, shortly after the Air India flights crossed its airspace on Saturday. The decision to reroute some flights but not others has sparked questions, considering past incidents where civilian aircraft were shot down in or near conflict zones. The aircraft used by Air India for these flights were Boeing 777-232 and Boeing 777ER, carrying approximately 280 and 330 passengers respectively.
Air India prioritizes safety amid rising tensions
In response to the potential risk, an Air India representative stressed that passenger, crew, and aircraft safety are their top priorities. "Our flight operations plan, regardless of airspace, is risk-assessed and we do not make any compromise with safety issues," he stated. They further assured that despite Iranian airspace being open to civilian air traffic without restrictions, Air India was vigilantly monitoring the situation in collaboration with various safety organizations and regulatory bodies.
Other airlines also flew over Iran amid rising tensions
Air India was not the only airline that passed the Iranian airspace. Airliners such as Malaysia Airlines, Emirates and Qatar Airways flew over Iran airspace on April 13. Notably, several global airlines began rerouting or canceling flights on the night between Saturday and Sunday. Air India itself rerouted a few flights on April 13 as a precautionary measure. Its 149 and 121 flights from Kochi to the London Gatwick airport and Delhi to Frankfurt took the longer route via Afghanistan.
Past incidents raise questions about flight safety
In January 2020, a Ukrainian plane was shot down in Iran, resulting in at least 176 fatalities. Similarly, in July 2014, a Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine, causing 298 deaths. Despite these risks, airlines usually maintain flight altitudes of 35,000 feet deemed safe by aviation authorities when flying over conflict zones.
