Air France Investigates Dangerous Flight Path Amid Iranian Missile Attack

Air France has announced the launch of an internal investigation concerning an incident involving one of its flights, AF662, which took place on October 1, 2024. The flight, connecting Paris Charles-de-Gaulle to Dubai, reportedly flew over southern Iraq during an active missile attack by Iran on Israeli targets.

The incident, first reported by LCI, has caught significant attention after it was revealed that Iranian missiles were visible from the cockpit of the Air France jet. According to the French broadcaster, Air France affirmed that on that day, its aircraft was flying through a designated corridor used by many airlines and exited Iraqi airspace shortly before it was officially closed by Iraqi authorities.

A spokesperson from Air France stated, “We suspended the overflight of the Iraqi airspace by our aircraft from 17:00 GMT (19:00 Paris time) upon identifying the impending attack by Iran on Israel.” Despite the proactive measures Air France claims to have taken, flight AF662 was in Iraqi airspace when the attack commenced at approximately 16:45 GMT.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges airlines face in navigating airspace over conflict zones. Although ballistic missiles generally travel at altitudes higher than those of commercial airliners, the proximity to such military actions necessitates rigorous scrutiny from relevant aviation authorities.

Laurent Veque from the National Union of Airline Pilots confirmed, “The facts are known; the aircraft found itself in this Iraqi corridor amidst hostilities initiated by Iran against Israel.” An inquiry will be undertaken to understand fully what transpired and to determine any necessary adjustments to their flight operation protocols.

The attack, believed to involve up to 200 missiles according to Tehran, resulted in high tensions in the region. While Iran claimed a 90% success rate on the targets, Israeli defense forces countered this assertion, indicating that many missiles had been intercepted.

The international aviation community will be closely monitoring the results of Air France’s internal investigation, particularly concerning their decision-making processes and crisis management protocols.