Sky Safety Debate: Pilots Question Airline Decisions Over Middle East Tensions

Pilots at European airlines, including Wizz Air, are raising concerns over flying through Middle Eastern airspace amid increasing regional tensions. Despite past safety issues, airlines continue routing flights over potentially dangerous zones. Unions demand greater transparency and decision-making rights for pilots regarding unsafe routes.

In late September, a veteran pilot at Wizz Air expressed concern as his flight path over Iraq during nighttime raised alarms due to escalating tensions involving Iran and Israel. The pilot questioned the safety reassessment made by his airline, which just a week earlier had deemed the route unsafe.

Amid mounting regional instability following Hamas' October attack on Israel, Reuters interviewed aviation professionals and reviewed union letters that highlighted safety concerns. Pilots argue for more transparency and decision-making rights regarding routes perceived as unsafe.

Airlines like Lufthansa and British Airways have opted to reroute in response to conflicts, while budget carriers, bound by cost constraints and lacking unionized pilot rights, continue to traverse disputed airspaces. Calls for increased information sharing and legal rights for pilots grow as tensions persist.

(With inputs from agencies.)