The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) has called on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to halt commercial flights into dangerous conflict zones in West Asia. ALPA emphasized the need for disclosure and verification of crew insurance coverage to ensure safety. The association stressed the importance of a centralized risk assessment before resuming operations in these high-risk areas.
ALPA highlighted the lack of intelligence, surveillance, and risk assessment capabilities among commercial carriers to evaluate threats in active war zones. They urged for stringent directives aligned with global best practices and intelligence inputs for flights near conflict areas. ALPA emphasized the inconsistency in safety standards when airlines are tasked with assessing risks in such volatile regions.
In a letter to the DGCA, ALPA referenced past incidents where civilian airlines were shot down in conflict zones, underscoring the potential dangers to passengers and flight crew in West Asia. The association pointed out that airlines may not possess adequate insurance coverage for war risks in these regions, raising concerns about passenger and crew safety. ALPA called for sovereign authorities and specialized agencies to handle such risk assessments to ensure uniform safety standards.
Citing historical examples like Iran Air Flight 655 and Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, ALPA emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into decision-making processes within airlines operating in West Asia. The association specifically called for accountability measures regarding crew and passenger safety, particularly focusing on the roles of key personnel in ensuring adequate war risk insurance coverage.
