Air France Investigates Overflight Incident Amid Middle East Tensions

Air France has initiated an internal investigation after one of its flights flew over Iraq during an Iranian missile launch targeting Israel. The incident comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, following Iran‘s retaliation for the killing of the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon. This was reported by various media outlets on Wednesday.

Flight AF662, traveling from Paris to Dubai, was crossing Iraqi airspace on October 1 when Iran launched a missile strike. The flight exited Iraqi airspace “shortly before” the airspace was formally closed at 5:56 p.m. UTC, according to a statement by the airline. The incident was first reported by the French television channel LCI.

An Air France spokesperson explained that the decision to fly over Iraq was made before knowing about the impending attack. “Thanks to the information we gathered, we were able to identify a forthcoming attack on Israel by Iran,” the spokesperson remarked, confirming that Air France ceased overflying Iraq from 5:00 p.m. UTC due to safety concerns.

The airline also stated that its aircraft have been avoiding the regions of Israel, Lebanon, and Iran due to rising regional conflicts. “Air France constantly monitors geopolitical developments to ensure the highest levels of flight safety and security,” the company added, emphasizing that customer and crew safety is a priority. During the same period, a flight returning to Paris and another coming from Singapore had to alter their routes for safety reasons.

As the conflict in the Middle East intensifies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Lebanese civilians of prolonged military engagement, following continuous exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel. Meanwhile, Palestinians have reported increased military activity in Gaza, leading to further displacement within the region, as seen in footage shared with CNN.