ALPA Calls for Suspension of Flights in High-Risk Conflict Zones

Urgent Appeal from Airline Pilots’ Association

New Delhi, March 28: 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 also emphasized the need for airlines to disclose and verify valid insurance coverage for their crew members.

ALPA has urged that this suspension remain in effect until a comprehensive and authoritative risk assessment is completed.

The association is advocating for mandatory guidelines that align with international best practices and intelligence assessments for flights operating near active conflict zones.

According to ALPA, commercial airlines do not possess the necessary intelligence, surveillance, or geopolitical risk assessment capabilities to adequately evaluate threats in active war zones. Relying on these airlines for such assessments could lead to inconsistent safety standards.

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

“We previously raised this concern with the DGCA on March 18, which led to an Urgent Safety advisory issued on March 19. This advisory advised airlines to perform their own independent risk assessments, which is a significant concern,” the letter stated.

However, ALPA contends that these assessments should be the responsibility of sovereign authorities and specialized agencies.

“Pilots have been actively seeking clarity on the status and validity of their insurance coverage when flying into these high-risk areas. So far, no formal documentation or assurance has been provided to confirm that adequate war risk insurance is in place,” the association pointed out.

ALPA suggested that the lack of suitable insurance riders may be a reason for this oversight by airlines.

They cited historical examples, including 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.

Furthermore, ALPA has called for a detailed 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, the association demands accountability for exposing crew and passengers to such risks, especially if it is found that adequate war risk insurance is lacking.