Indian Pilots Urge Halt of All Flights to UAE and Other Gulf Nations at Risk

The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) has reached out to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), requesting an immediate halt to flights to the UAE and other high-risk Gulf locations due to the worsening security landscape in West Asia.

On Monday, July 20, the pilots’ organization emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew should be prioritized until an independent threat assessment of the current security climate is conducted.

In its message, ALPA India highlighted that civil aircraft operating in or over conflict-affected areas are at risk from various threats beyond direct military actions. These include misidentification, missile strikes, electronic warfare, GPS disruptions, rapidly evolving airspace restrictions, and the challenges of obtaining timely intelligence for flight crews.
The association noted that these risks considerably raise operational uncertainty and warned that “the implications of an error in such an environment could be catastrophic.”

ALPA India called on aviation authorities to implement precautionary measures and reassess flights to the impacted areas until the security situation improves.

Earlier that day, the Indian Embassy in Tehran issued a travel advisory for Indian nationals intending to visit Iran, referencing the recent decline in the security situation amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States. In a post on X, the Embassy mentioned that the advisory was adjusted due to the increasing instability and conflict in the region.

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This advisory has been released as the conflict between the US and Iran escalates. On Monday (July 20), US forces conducted strikes on Iran for the ninth consecutive day, with confirmed US military fatalities reaching three. The renewed hostilities have raised concerns regarding the security of shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

The US Central Command stated it initiated “a new wave of strikes” targeting Iran’s capability to attack commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz. Although operational details were not disclosed, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that American missiles hit several Iranian cities early Monday.

The recent escalation follows the breakdown of an interim ceasefire agreement established a month prior, as tensions concerning control of the Strait of Hormuz escalate.

This MoU aimed to facilitate a 60-day ceasefire and discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme. In response, Iran has executed drone and missile strikes against US allies in the Gulf.