The European Safety Agency (EASA) is advising EU airlines to avoid flying through Russian airspace in the its latest updated safety guidance.
The updated alert comes after an Azerbaijan Airlines crash in Kazakhstan last month that killed at least 38 people. EASA cited the fatal incident which occurred after Russia fired against Ukrainian drones as an example of the risk involved.
“The ongoing conflict following the Russian invasion of Ukraine poses the risk of civil aircraft being unintentionally targeted in the airspace of the Russian Federation due to possible civil-military coordination deficiencies, and the potential for misidentification,” EASA said.
EASA’s updated Conflict Zone Information Bulletin warns against operating “within the affected airspace of the Russian Federation located west of longitude 60° East at all altitudes and flight levels”.
The recommendation also applies to foreign air carriers that have received a safety authorization from EASA.
In response, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, condemned the warning noting that air safety was its highest priority.
Rosaviatsiya said the recommendation “was nothing more than a continuation of the policy of sanctions by Western countries on the Russian Federation’s aviation industry”, Reuters reports.
The guidance remains in force until at least the end of July 2025.
