Flight Safety Over and To Conflict Zones: A Call for Awareness

The Belgian Cockpit Association raised on several occasions awareness among the pilot community and the public about the dangers of flying over or into conflict zones. The risks posed by these areas are not theoretical—they have led to multiple aviation tragedies in recent history.

Past Tragedies: Lessons Not Learned? One of the most devastating examples remains Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 people on board. This tragic event was not an isolated case. Several other commercial aircraft have been targeted in conflict zones, proving that civilian aviation is at risk:

• Iran Air Flight 655 (1988) – An Airbus A300 was mistakenly shot down by the USS Vincennes over the Persian Gulf, killing 290 people.
• DHL Airbus A300 Attack (2003) – A cargo aircraft was struck by a missile after takeoff from Baghdad, Iraq, but the crew miraculously managed to land safely despite losing all hydraulics.
• Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 (2020) – A Boeing 737 was shot down near Tehran, Iran, killing 176 people, after being mistaken for a military threat.

These examples demonstrate that commercial aircraft remain vulnerable when flying near conflict zones. Many passengers are unaware when their flight path crosses a conflict zone.

BeCA, along with the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) and the European Cockpit Association (ECA) have repeatedly called for greater transparency and stricter regulations on overflights of conflict areas. No single authority enforces no-fly zones, leaving airlines to make their own decisions and causing regulatory gaps.

BeCA keeps stressing that:

Of course, Airlines should prioritize safety over economic factors when choosing flight routes.

Regulatory bodies like EASA should take stronger measures in assessing and mitigating flight risks over conflict areas.

Stronger international coordination is needed to impose clear restrictions on high-risk zones.

Risk assessments must be improved, with real-time intelligence shared between airlines, authorities and the pilots.

Pilots must be fully informed and trained on the dangers, and passengers deserve transparency regarding flight routes.