Safe Airspace – Conflict Zone and Risk Database

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21 Oct

Risk summary updated: Latest developments, current airspace restrictions, operational risks.

21 Oct

Risk summary updated: Latest developments, current airspace restrictions, operational risks.

21 Oct

Risk summary updated: Latest developments, current airspace restrictions, operational risks.

21 Oct

Risk summary updated: Latest developments, current airspace restrictions, operational risks.

21 Oct

Risk summary updated: Latest developments, current airspace restrictions, operational risks.

14 Oct

Risk summary updated: Latest developments, current airspace restrictions, operational risks.

14 Oct

Risk summary updated: Latest developments, current airspace restrictions, operational risks.

12 Oct

Risk summary updated: Latest developments, current airspace restrictions, operational risks.

12 Oct

Risk summary updated: Latest developments, current airspace restrictions, operational risks.

11 Oct

Risk summary updated: Latest developments, current airspace restrictions, operational risks.

14 Aug

Risk summary updated: Major evacuation of aircraft from Tripoli due to security risk, violent clashes and gunfire.

15 Apr

Risk summary updated: Impact of Sudan military coup.

30 Nov

Risk summary updated: Flights at lower levels near Bangui may be at increased risk, following recent incident where unidentified aircraft dropped bombs targeting a militant group 150nm north of Bangui.

01 Jan

Risk summary updated: FTTJ/Ndjamena airport was closed for 2 days in April 2021 due to security concerns following the death of Chad’s long term President.

01 Jan

Addition of Eritrea, missile attack on HHAS/Asmara, Level 2 warning.

North Korea fired several missiles toward the Sea of Japan earlier today Nov 4. South Korea (the RKRR/Incheon FIR) issued a warning via Notam asking operators to maintain a listening watch and follow any ATC instructions. Tension between the two countries has risen in recent weeks, and North Korea is continuing to step up its missile tests. Aircraft operating near the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR and over the Sea of Japan could be exposed to risks that include falling debris. See safeairspace.net for more info.

Fresh report of GPS interference in the RJJJ/Fukuoka FIR. A Gulfstream was flying westbound on R220 and intermittently lost signal for 17 minutes starting from around 75nm from NUBDA and running through NANNO. The crew had previously isolated an FMS through the known NUZAN-NIPPI hotspot, but this caught them off guard as it was further to the southwest. ADS-B, GPS position and synthetic vision were all lost. The crew advised ATC via CPDLC but didn’t get a reply. Normal ops resumed when the signal came back.

It looks like a total of six aircraft have received bomb threats across Europe today, Nov 3. Two Ryanair flights from Dublin and Lisbon were searched at LIRF/Rome Fiumicino. A LOT flight from EGLL/Heathrow to EPWA/Warsaw diverted to EPMO/Modlin, while an SAS flight from EKCH/Copenhagen to EPWA/Warsaw landed and was searched. A Ryanair flight from EGCC/Manchester to LEMI/Murcia was also searched. A sixth flight from Israel landed at LBSF/Sofia following a threat. This follows a similar threat against a Wizz Air flight from EGGW/Luton to LBSF/Sofia on Nov 2, which diverted to LHBP/Budapest. No link between the threats has been confirmed… yet!

US and Iranian forces are still exchanging fire around the Strait of Hormuz, despite a lull in large-scale fighting. The US has carried out several smaller strikes on Iranian military targets in recent weeks. The latest was on Qeshm Island overnight on Nov 2-3, after Iranian forces reportedly fired at a US aircraft. Iran also claims to have shot down three US drones nearby. No new airspace restrictions or airport closures have been reported, but just a reminder that military activity continues and risks remain for aircraft in the region.

GPS Interference Update, Nov 3: Some new developments beyond the usual hotspots. In the US, GPS jamming continues to affect up to 100 flights a day - most cases have been flagged in Notams, although some have not. There was also a report of around 70 flights being spoofed near Zhangshou in China on Oct 23. There’s also still something strange going on over Bulgaria, with some flights getting spoofed to as far away as Peru! Smaller hotspots remain intermittently active around Bogota, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Kuala Lumpur and Hanoi. Thanks to GPSwise for this update.

Colombia has deployed troops to the city of Cucuta, after the killing of a former city official on Oct 26, followed by a bombing near the Venezuelan border hours later. The US Dept. of State maintains a 'Do Not Travel' warning for the border region where crime, kidnapping and armed conflict are common. No impact to airport ops so far, but be cautious with crew security here. Common precautions include the use of trusted transport, avoiding road travel at night and remaining in your accommodation as much as possible.

The Houthis issued an evacuation warning before attacking OYAA/Aden airport with two ballistic missiles on Oct 28. The runway was reportedly damaged, and the current operational status of the airport isn’t known. It was the fourth attack on or near the field since Oct 16. Active fighting continues to impact Yemen where several states maintain long-standing airspace warnings for the OYSC/Sanaa FIR. This includes a complete ban on US operators over land. See safeairspace.net for a full briefing.

Explosions were reported over Riyadh on Oct 27, as Saudi air defences destroyed at least two Houthi missiles. No disruptions were reported at OERK/Riyadh, which partially reopened on Oct 25 following Houthi attacks two weeks prior. Alerts were also issued in the east of the country, where three more missiles were intercepted. The Houthi campaign against Saudi targets, which include major airports, continues to escalate. As per our previous alerts, the OEJD/Jeddah FIR should be considered high-risk. SafeAirspace maintains a Level 1 - Do Not Fly warning.

The private jet terminal was targeted by environmental protestors on Oct 10. Activists from the Extinction Rebellion used a ladder to climb over a perimeter fence before sitting next to a Cessna Citation on the ramp. A separate group entered the FBO and refused to leave. All have been charged by the police. The airport has been targeted by the group before, including an incident in Sep 2023 where an aircraft was vandalized with red paint. Common precautions include using a hangar if practical, or avoiding parking spots that are near the perimeter fence.

GPS Spoofing: A member report received Monday morning (Oct 26) tells the group that there was a series of unusual GNSS interference related events yesterday. 5 similar reports were also made. In the first reported event, a G550 operating Madrid-London, saw GPS2 fail on the ground at LEMD/Madrid, and GPS1 failed after landing London. Maintenance advised that the FMS time was incorrect, and this was enough to fail the GPS units. Rectified simply by changing the FMS time back to correct time. Member tells us that hopefully the info saves someone from thinking their GPS has failed completely, and making an expensive replacement. The root cause is not identified, but some kind of GPS/WAAS spoofing is suspected - location uncertain. We would welcome any similar reports to team@ops.group.

We’ve had another member report on Saudi airspace: flights from Egypt entering at SIKNO may be rerouted south via EVANO DCT MUVOL. OEGS/Gassim can fill up quickly and may reject diversions, so don’t use it as your sole alternate (I use OEMA/Madinah). Flights over OERK/Riyadh VOR may be rerouted north or south. Flights from OEDF/Dammam over OERK are usually sent via Gassim VOR before rejoining their route, adding 15-30 mins of fuel. Flights over OEYN/Yanbu VOR may be rerouted up to 50 NM east or west. OEYN/Yanbu is reportedly on indefinite hold and is not available as an alternate, despite no Notam.

Kuwait has reopened to overflights, bringing back the central routing option between Europe and the Middle East via Turkey-Iraq-Kuwait-Bahrain-Qatar-UAE. Flights can now cross the OKAC/Kuwait FIR between the OBBB/Bahrain and ORBB/Baghdad FIRs at FL280 or above. This route won’t be available to everyone, as EASA and several European countries advise against or prohibit overflights of Iraq. But for those allowed to use Iraqi airspace, this central routing offers an alternative to going through Saudi airspace where recent Houthi attacks have increased risks to aviation.

GPS Interference Update, Oct 19: GPS interference remains active across the usual hotspots - the SE Med, Gulf/Red Sea, Russia, India-Pakistan border and Myanmar. There was also some new jamming near Sao Paulo, plus a brief but intense spike in South Korea. The US is also seeing ongoing GPS interference testing, potentially affecting up to 100 flights a day. Smaller hotspots near Bogota, Mexico City, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi and Guangzhou (sometimes Hong Kong) remain active from time to time. Thanks to GPSwise for this update!

Fighting between Saudi Arabia and Houthi in Yemen continues to escalate. On Oct 16, Saudi forces reported intercepting a ballistic missile headed for Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. Two missiles also struck OYAA/Aden airport on Oct 16, reportedly targeting a nearby military facility. No casualties were reported, but a departing passenger aircraft was evacuated after the missiles landed around 500m away. Several states have airspace warnings in place for both Saudi Arabia and Yemen - at safeairspace.net we recommend avoiding both countries entirely.

The haze across Singapore has worsened over the past few days and is expected to remain an issue for at least another week. A reminder that Seletar is a VFR-only airport, and pilots must maintain VMC throughout the visual approach. Even crews based at Seletar, who fly these approaches regularly, treat visual approaches conservatively when conditions are marginal. Those unfamiliar with the airport should be particularly cautious. Don't report the runway in sight until you can positively identify it, or be tempted to descend early to try and find it. If you can't maintain VMC or positively identify the runway, discontinue the approach and consider diverting to Changi.

The Houthis are escalating attacks on Saudi Arabia and have specifically named airports as potential targets. A building in Dhahran was hit by a missile early on Oct 13, and Saudi forces reported intercepting missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh, Al-Kharj and Haradh. OERK/Riyadh remains closed as a precaution until at least 2100Z on Oct 17, following the fatal attack on Oct 10. The OEJD/Jeddah FIR is technically open, but several countries have updated their airspace warnings in response to recent events. See our latest risk briefing for more info.

The situation in Saudi Arabia remains tense. OERK/Riyadh is now closed until October 17 (Notam A3604/26), following the series of Houthi attacks last week and over the weekend. Yesterday, OEDF/ Dammam, in the far north-east, was also hit. A new FAA security Notam (KICZ A0056/26) was issued Sunday evening for the Jeddah FIR, which contains no prohibition for US operators, but an "exercise caution" warning. SafeAirspace remains at Level 1 for the entirety of Saudi airspace, and our briefing from Friday remains valid.

At least one missile, attributed to the Houthis, struck the passenger terminal complex on Oct 10, causing mass casualties - a serious escalation against Saudi aviation interests. The airport is currently closed until at least 2100z Oct 11. A projectile was also reported near OEDF/Dammam on the same day. This follows weeks of sustained Houthi attacks against civilian and oil infrastructure, including airports. Flight tracking shows the OEJD/Jeddah FIR is still receiving heavy demand for overflights despite rapidly increasing risk from military activity. This includes drones, missiles and air defense activations. Further strikes are likely. See safeairspace.net for a full briefing, where we have recently increased our warning for Saudi Arabia to Level 1 - Do Not Fly.

A few minutes ago, Canada issued a "Do not enter" recommendation for the OEJD/Jeddah FIR. This is the first blanket recommendation from an aviation authority to avoid Saudi airspace entirely. The security situation has escalated steadily each day for the past several weeks. The regular attacks on OERK/Riyadh with long-range ballistic missiles are the clearest indication of the level of threat now within the Saudi FIR. We ask all members with input on the situation to complete the active ALL CALL via the link below.

The security situation continues to deteriorate, with further attacks on Saudi airports on Oct 6-7. OERK/Riyadh was hit on Oct 7, with one person killed, eight injured and damage reported at the airport. OEAB/Abha was also targeted, with two people killed and 28 injured. There have also been attacks at OEGN/Jazan and OENG/Najran in recent days. The attacks show the growing threat to airports themselves, but also the increasing risk in the airspace - Saudi is still seeing a lot of overflight traffic, with missiles, drones and increased air-defence activity adding to the risk. Check safeairspace.net for more info.

GPS Interference Update, Oct 5: GPS interference remains active across the usual hotspots, including the SE Med, the Gulf/Red Sea and Persian Gulf, Russia, the India-Pakistan border and Myanmar. The main change is Pakistan, where jamming has spread well beyond the Indian border and is now affecting Karachi and central parts of the country. GPSwise identified around 8 percent of flights in the OPKR/Karachi FIR as affected by jamming over the past 14 days. Smaller hotspots around Bogota, Mexico City, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi and Guangzhou, occasionally extending into Hong Kong, also remain active.

The airport closed for under an hour on Oct 3 while NATO jets responded to an unidentified object approaching Lithuanian airspace from Belarus. The alert was later lifted with no confirmed threat and authorities are still looking into the cause. It was the second air defence closure in three weeks, following one on Sep 13 that ended up being a flock of birds. Separately, a drone was shot down well west of Vilnius on Sep 15. Spillover risks from the conflict in Ukraine remain a persistent threat throughout the Eastern Baltic region. See safeairspace.net for more info.

Kuwait has extended its airspace restrictions until at least Nov 2. Overflights through the OKAC/Kuwait FIR are still not permitted - only approved flights going to/from OKKK/Kuwait airport are allowed. While neighbouring countries have all reopened to overflights in some form, Kuwait is still the missing piece in the middle, which means that Europe-Middle East flights on this central routing still can’t return just yet. The same routing options remain as before: head south via Egypt/Saudi, or north via the Caucasus/Afghanistan.

The security situation in Saudi Arabia has escalated quickly in recent weeks, with Houthi drone and missile attacks reaching further into the country, including Riyadh. Air defence activity has already caused disruption at short notice, with aircraft being rerouted and flights to OEJN/Jeddah facing significant delays and diversions. Further disruption including ESCAT activation, airport closures and diversions, could happen with little warning. A full Risk Warning PDF (8 pages, 2Mb) is now available in your Members Dashboard - including the latest airspace warnings and analysis of the current situation.

Member reports suggest the GPS interference along R220 is back and getting worse, with several crews recently reporting jamming in the area between NUZAN and NRKEY, particularly towards NUZAN. The FAA’s Notam is still active, cautioning pilots about multiple GPS interference events. Most of them are short in duration and the source remains unknown. ATC wants you to report any interference to them, and take a look at our blog post about these GPS issues along North Pacific routes for more info.

There's a trap for business aviation crews at Haneda when taxiing to the northern apron after landing on Runway 34L. If you vacate via L13, pay close attention to the turn onto Taxiway L. The L13/L14/L15 and B intersection is a known hotspot and surprisingly easy to get wrong. ATC will generally route you towards B7 to hold short of Runway 04/22. With JCAB now keeping a close eye on pilot deviations at Haneda, this is one to be extra careful with. Check out our latest blog for more on the JCAB penalty system.

On Sep 24 Greek air defences in Saudi Arabia shot down a ballistic missile and drone near Yanbu, close to major oil facilities north of Jeddah on the Red Sea coast - the second time this has happened in the past month. Airspace risk in the OEJD/Jeddah FIR has continued to rise following a renewed Houthi offensive in southern Yemen. The air defence system used can reach well above normal cruising levels. The primary risk remains short-notice airspace disruptions, with secondary risks of misidentification and cross-fire. See safeairspace.net for more info.

GPS Interference Update, Sep 21: interference remains active across the usual hotspots - the SE Med, the Gulf/Red Sea and Persian Gulf, Russia, the India-Pakistan border and Myanmar. Several short-lived interference areas appeared last week, including the Taiwan Strait, north of Bengaluru, and Sinaloa in Mexico. Jamming was also observed around Dhaka, Hong Kong, Karachi, parts of Southeast Asia, Bogota and Mexico City. This update is from GPSwise, who provide a free spoofing map as well as more complex fleet/API/integrated options.

Houthis in Yemen fired a ballistic missile towards Riyadh early on Sep 19 - the first attack on the capital since the recent escalation began in July. Saudi Arabia says it was intercepted, but a fire was later reported at a fuel depot near OERK/Riyadh where ops were temporarily affected. This follows a significant Houthi offensive in Yemen in recent weeks which has increased the risk of short-notice disruptions in the OEJD/Jeddah FIR. This includes missile and drone strikes along with associated air defence activity and possible ESCAT procedures.

Houthi rebels are claiming to have shot down a Saudi Air Force F-15 on Sep 16 using a surface-to-air missile. This occurred over Marib, approx 80nm east of OYSN/Sanaa. The incident is currently unconfirmed as Saudi Arabia hasn’t commented yet. The Houthi have carried out a major offensive on Yemen’s Red Sea coast in the past two weeks which has triggered a large number of retaliatory air strikes. While civil aviation isn’t a specific target, the risk of misidentification in the OYSC/Sanaa FIR is increasing. Several states maintain active airspace warnings for Yemen, including a ban on US operators at all levels while overflying land. See safeairspace.net for a full briefing.

Member report from the short-notice disruptions in Saudi airspace last Friday Sep 11. The flight was passing through the OEJD/Jeddah FIR on Y511 between 1730-1930Z. Shortly after news of a Houthi attack on Saudi oil facilities, ATC vectored the aircraft to remain east of OEMA/Madinah, advising this was due to “military activity,” and handled the situation well. Flights bound for OEJN/Jeddah were initially told to expect a 30-min delay, but this later stretched to several hours, with several diversions reported. Houthi strikes in southern and western Saudi Arabia are expected to continue.

The FAA has extended its warnings across parts of the eastern Eastern Pacific, covering overwater areas of the MMFR/Mexico, MHTG/Central America, MPZL/Panama, SKED/Bogota and SEFG/Guayaquil FIRs, as well as MMFO/Mazatlan Oceanic and part of the ‘NO FIR’ area. The warnings are for ongoing military activity and GPS interference. A background note says US military aircraft may carry out short-notice counter-narcotic operations at low levels, sometimes without transponders. GPS interference can also continue to affect aircraft after leaving the area. The warnings are now valid until Mar 13, 2027.

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