Airline Pilots Demand Safety Measures for Operations in Conflict Zones

Safety Concerns Raised by Airline Pilots' Association

New Delhi: The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) has formally requested the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to halt commercial flights to high-risk conflict areas in West Asia. They are also advocating for mandatory verification of valid insurance coverage for flight crews.

ALPA has called for this suspension to remain in effect until a comprehensive and authoritative risk assessment is completed.

The association is seeking enforceable guidelines that align with international safety standards, along with intelligence assessments for flights operating near active conflict zones.

According to ALPA, commercial airlines lack the necessary intelligence, surveillance, and geopolitical risk assessment capabilities to adequately evaluate threats in war zones. Relying on these airlines for such assessments could lead to inconsistent safety protocols.

In a letter addressed to the DGCA, the pilots referenced past incidents where civilian aircraft were shot down amidst conflicts, underscoring the dangers faced by passengers and crew in West Asia.

The letter noted that the issue was initially raised on March 18, prompting the DGCA to issue an urgent safety advisory on March 19, which advised airlines to perform their own risk assessments. This response has raised significant concerns among pilots.

ALPA argues that risk assessments should be the responsibility of sovereign authorities and specialized agencies, not the airlines.

The pilots have been seeking clarity on the status and validity of their insurance coverage when flying into these high-risk areas. To date, no formal documentation has been provided to confirm that sufficient war risk insurance is in place under these conditions.

ALPA suggested that the lack of adequate insurance riders might be the reason for this oversight.

The association cited historical examples, such as the downing of Iran Air Flight 655 by the US, Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 by Israel, and Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 by Iran, to illustrate the potential dangers.

They have urged the DGCA to conduct a thorough investigation into the decision-making processes at Air India, particularly focusing on the roles of the Vice President of Operations and the Crew Scheduling Department.

As Air India continues its operations in West Asia, ALPA is calling for accountability regarding the exposure of crew and passengers to these risks, especially if it is determined that adequate war risk insurance is lacking.