Pilot Concerns Grow Over Middle East Flight Safety

In response to escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly following Hamas' attack on Israel, pilots and crew members from airlines such as Wizz Air have expressed significant safety concerns regarding flight routes over Iraq. An experienced Wizz Air pilot felt uneasy about flying over Iraq at night after the airline had previously deemed the route unsafe, yet was instructed to proceed without further explanation. Days later, after Iran launched missiles at Israel, Iraq closed its airspace, reinforcing the pilot's fears. Wizz Air maintains that safety is its top priority and claims to have conducted thorough risk assessments before resuming operations in the region. Meanwhile, unionized pilots in Europe are pressing for more transparency and rights in decision-making about flight routes, especially as budget airlines continue to operate in these contested airspaces. Other carriers, like Lufthansa, have chosen to reroute flights to avoid potential dangers, highlighting a growing divide in safety protocols among different types of airlines.