ALPA India raises safety concerns over flights near West Asia conflict zones

The Airline Pilots' Association of India has raised serious safety concerns over the continued operation of commercial flights in and around conflict-hit regions in West Asia, warning that such operations could put lives at risk.

In a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the pilots’ body said that flying “into, or close to, an active war zone” poses a major threat to passengers, crew, and aircraft. It described such decisions as a form of “willful endangerment of human life” and called for immediate intervention by the government.

ALPA India noted that it had first flagged the issue on March 18. Following this, the DGCA issued a safety advisory on March 19 asking airlines to carry out their own risk assessments before operating such flights. However, the association criticised this approach, arguing that assessing risks in conflict zones should not be left to individual airlines.

According to the pilots’ body, airlines do not have access to the level of intelligence and surveillance required to properly evaluate threats in war-like situations. It stressed that such assessments should be handled by governments through a centralised and authoritative system.

Referring to global aviation practices, ALPA India pointed out that while the International Civil Aviation Organisation allows airlines to conduct their own safety assessments, active conflict zones require stronger oversight and timely communication from state authorities.

The association also raised concerns about the lack of clarity on war-risk insurance for pilots. It said that crew members operating on such routes have not received clear confirmation on whether their insurance policies remain valid in conflict zones. This, it warned, creates uncertainty about liability and protection in case of an incident.

To highlight the seriousness of the issue, ALPA India referred to past incidents where civilian aircraft were shot down during conflicts, including the Iran Air Flight 655 shootdown, the Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 shootdown, and the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 shootdown.

In its letter, the association has urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA to take immediate action. Key demands include temporarily suspending flights to high-risk conflict zones until a comprehensive safety assessment is carried out, issuing clear operational guidelines in line with international standards, and ensuring full transparency regarding insurance coverage, especially war-risk clauses.

It has also called for an inquiry into airline decision-making processes related to such operations, including flight planning and crew scheduling.

ALPA India has sought an urgent response from the authorities and warned that it may pursue legal action, including approaching the courts, if the issue is not addressed promptly.

“The safety of human life must remain paramount and non-negotiable in all aviation operations,” the association said.

There has been no immediate response from the Ministry of Civil Aviation or the regulator on the matter.