Chinese Naval Live-Fire Drills Disrupt 49 Flights off Australia

In February 2025, 49 commercial aircraft were forced to divert flights due to live-fire drills conducted by Chinese warships in the Tasman Sea, between Australia and New Zealand. Newly released cockpit audio from a Virgin Australia flight reveals that pilots were not warned in advance about the drills and only learned of the live firing from the Chinese navy moments before flying near the danger zone. Air traffic control was caught off guard and communicated with various airlines, including Emirates and Qantas, to divert flights away from the exercises, as missiles were reportedly fired up to 15 kilometers high, posing a risk to commercial aircraft. Australian authorities expressed concern over the lack of prior notification from the Chinese military, despite the drills being conducted within international law, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasizing that good practice would have been to provide 24 to 48 hours' advance notice. The incident has heightened tensions between Australia and China, with pilots and aviation officials describing the situation as causing significant uncertainty and alarm. The audio recordings highlight the pilots' nervousness and the challenges faced in managing flight safety during unexpected military exercises in international waters.