Safe Airspace – Conflict Zone and Risk Database

View Map

Updates Alerts

21 Nov

Risk summary updated: New US FAA airspace warning.

18 Nov

Risk summary updated: New FAA airspace warning for the TJZS/San Juan FIR.

12 Nov

Risk Summary updated: Two aircraft targeted and hit by bullets on approach to MTPP/Port-au-Prince. Operations suspended, major risk to aircraft. The FAA have since banned US operators from flights in the airspace of Haiti below 10,000ft MSL. Elevated to Level 1 - Do Not Fly.

There was a military coup on November 26. Soldiers have announced on live television that they have assumed ‘total control’ of the country, and have closed the border. The president has reportedly been detained and heavy gunfire has been reported in the capital, Bissau. The status of GGOV/Bissau is unknown at this time. No new notams have been issued by the GOOO/Dakar FIR who control the airspace above, but the impact of the coup is still emerging - a closure is likely. Continue to monitor safeairspace.net for updates.

The FAA has issued a new airspace warning for the SVZM/Maiquetia FIR. KICZ A0012/25 advises caution at all levels because of a deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in and around Venezuela. The FAA’s Background Information note reports GPS interference, plus the mobilisation of military assets including advanced surface-to-air systems capable of reaching civil cruising levels. Several airlines have already suspended service. We advise avoiding Venezuelan airspace at this time. Check safeairspace.net for more info.

The airport has seen repeated short notice night-time closures in recent weeks due to suspected smuggling balloons drifting in from Belarus. On Nov 20 the airport again paused flights for more than an hour after new balloons appeared on radar. Authorities warn further sudden closures remain possible. Lithuania has also activated prohibited areas along the Belarus border that allow interception of these balloons, and issued a standing Notam for night-time launches up to FL170. For flights to EYVI: treat sunset-sunrise as the elevated risk window for sudden closures.

The US FAA has issued a new airspace warning for Puerto Rico’s TJZS/San Juan FIR. KICZ Notam A0010/25 advises operators to use extreme caution at all levels because of an increase in state aircraft operations. It doesn’t say who these aircraft are, but the wording points to military flights, especially given the recent buildup in the region. This may affect route availability and raises the risk of aircraft operating without reference to civilian ATC, along with the possibility of misidentification. There has been a recent spike in US military activity around Puerto Rico and the southern Caribbean, and a larger US naval presence in the area. US forces have also carried out strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in nearby waters. Venezuela has objected to the buildup and called the increased US presence a threat, adding to the tension in the region.

An Embraer ERJ-145 charter crashed on landing at Kolwezi on Nov 17. The aircraft touched down before the displaced threshold on RWY 29, collapsed a main gear and slid off the runway, with the tail section catching fire. Everyone evacuated without injury. The airport currently has a 1,000-metre threshold displacement on RWY 29 for pavement works, leaving only 1,500 metres available per Notam B0233/25. Video shows the aircraft landing long and into the construction zone, which lines up with a possible missed or mis-briefed Notam, though the cause isn’t confirmed.

Media in India say the DGCA has issued a new rule requiring pilots to report GPS spoofing within 10 minutes of it happening. We can’t find that circular yet - the only one published is a long 2023 advisory about GPS interference that tells pilots to email a report after the flight, not in real time. The renewed attention follows recent spoofing at VIDP/Delhi, and to cut reliance on GPS, new CAT III ILS systems on both ends of runway 10/28 are set to go live from Nov 27, confirmed by Notam. One OPSGROUP crew arriving on Nov 12 said they saw only a minute of jamming when crossing the Pakistan border, with nothing at VIDP itself. Treat the “10-minute” rule as unconfirmed for now, but stay alert for GPS interference in northern India and report any anomalies to ATC.

Eurocontrol advise that GPS jamming activity will take place in the Shanwick FIR in a large piece of airspace off the coast of Ireland and Scotland from Nov 17 - 21, and again from Nov 24 - 28. This will occur daily between 10 - 18z. There are two suggested routes to avoid the area: north via ATSIX - 610000N 0200000W or south via RESNO - 550000N 0200000W. If you do choose to enter the affected airspace, expect increased separation standards and less optimal levels. Report to ATC if you encounter any degradations. EGGX Notam G0223/25 has this info.

Be aware of an ongoing authority dispute in the north of the HCSM/Mogadishu FIR. Both Somalia and the self-declared state of Somaliland have issued conflicting instructions for overflights. Somaliland says all flights need a PPR from its own CAA from Nov 10, while Somalia has reaffirmed through an AIC that it controls the entire FIR and operators should follow its AIP. Expect mixed messages on permit requirements near northern Somalia and the Hargeisa region. The Somali CAA remains the only internationally recognised authority for all Class A airspace above FL245 - be cautious of conflicting or unauthorised clearances. Check safeairspace.net for the history on this ongoing dispute and its impact to flights in the region.

There was a large explosion at Red Fort, Central Delhi on Nov 10 - a well guarded area frequented by tourists. The incident is being treated as a terrorist attack. Police have invoked an ‘anti-terror’ law which includes enhanced security measures at airports. The impact of this is longer processing times, intensified patrolling, stricter ID checks and additional security screening. Be wary of crew security - the US Dept. of State continues to advise extra caution at areas frequented by tourists, airports and shopping malls.

There are unconfirmed reports that an Il-76 military transport plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile near Babanusa, Southern Sudan on Nov 4. An anti-government group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The country’s airspace remains almost completely closed since a military coup in 2023, with the exception of limited contingency routes ops in and out of HSPN/Port Sudan airport in the far east of the country. Several airspace warnings exist due to the risk of anti-aircraft fire. The country remains an active conflict zone, and should be considered dangerous at all levels. Safeairspace.net has more info.

The US State Department has issued an updated security alert for Mali, urging all US citizens to depart immediately due to a rapidly deteriorating security situation. The warning stems from widespread fuel shortages, closure of public institutions, and escalating armed conflict near the capital. The situation is highly unstable. GABS/Bamako airport remains open, but all overland routes are considered unsafe due to the risk of terrorist attacks. Crews should exercise extreme caution and avoid layovers in Mali. You can take a look at the notice here.

Heads up for Kuwait. There’s a rough, uneven surface on taxiway E1 at the E1/E9 intersection where Loop 2 sits. Loop 2 is closed, but you still have to cross this spot when moving between the GA ramp and Loop 1 for 15L or 33R. Crews report a heavy jolt at normal taxi speed with no good daytime visual cues. It’s hard on the nose gear if you hit it fast. At night you can see it with lights. Slow to walking pace when crossing that section of E1. There’s no clear Notam warning about the surface condition.

EASA have extended their vague and inaccessible “Information Notes” for airspace risk in Israel and Iran to the end of January 2026. There are no content changes - both still advise operators to “take potential risk into account in their risk assessment and routing decisions.” The Israel note covers the LLLL/Tel Aviv FIR and airspace within 100 NM of Egypt and Jordan, while the Iran note applies to the entire OIIX/Tehran FIR at all levels. The full text of these notes is not publicly viewable and remains locked to EASA’s internal portal, replacing the former public CZIBs issued after this year’s conflict. N-reg aircraft remain banned from Iranian airspace under FAA rules. For more info, check our article from Aug this year.

There was a military coup on Oct 14 following weeks of protests across the island. The military unit responsible has declared control of the country. The president has reportedly fled. A heavy military presence and gunfire was reported in the capital, Antananarivo. No new Notams have been issued for FMMI/Antananarivo yet, but the operational impact of the coup is still emerging. Short notice airport or airspace closures are possible. We advise a high degree of caution for crew security at this time.

Venezuela has placed its air defences on high alert after claiming five US F-35s were detected about 75km off the northern coast near Caracas on Oct 2. The military has since moved coastal air defence units, signalling increased vigilance along the SVZM/Maiquetia FIR boundary. There’s no change for overflights - the FAA’s FL260 restriction expired in 2023, and no countries currently have active airspace warnings for Venezuela. Airlines are flying as normal, but crews should stay alert for short-notice ATC measures and have diversion plans ready given poor ground security. Check the Dyami publication for more info.

Both ENGM/Oslo and EKCH/Copenhagen were shut for several hours overnight after multiple large drones were spotted near their airspace - Oslo for about three hours, Copenhagen for nearly four. Around 50 flights were diverted from Copenhagen, with additional diversions and delays at Oslo. Both airports are now open, though delays continue. Investigations are ongoing, and there is no confirmation yet whether the drones were linked to Russia or Ukraine. The incidents came just hours after Ukraine launched a large overnight drone attack on Moscow, in which Russian forces reported shooting down dozens of drones.

There was another alleged airspace incursion by Russian military aircraft on Sep 19 - this time in Estonia (the EETT/Tallinn FIR). The event occurred over the Gulf of Finland near the boundary with the ULLL/St Petersburg FIR. There have been a number of similar events in NATO member airspace in recent weeks. In response, NATO is carrying out additional military exercises in Eastern Europe. Spillover risks persist near Ukraine’s borders where air defence activity may occur without warning. Monitor safeairspace.net for updates.

IFALPA has issued an updated warning urging operators to suspend crew layovers in Caracas. They note that crews have been targeted and, in some cases, abducted. If a layover must go ahead, they recommend it should only happen with strict security measures in place, including safe transport and plans to extract crews quickly in case of unrest or attacks. Most foreign travel advisories agree that Caracas remains extremely dangerous, with high levels of violent crime, kidnappings, and civil unrest, and conditions can deteriorate without warning.

The FAA has issued a new Safety Alert (SAFO) for the risks of carrying lithium batteries in passenger compartments. These devices, including power banks and portable chargers, can self-ignite and cause onboard fires. There is an additional risk when these are stored in hidden or hard-to-access areas. The SAFO encourages proactive risk management, crew training in firefighting (including using water to cool batteries) and briefing passengers on safe storage. Our recent article also highlights that BizAv may be at increased risk.

The airport has reopened after a 24-hour shutdown caused by violent protests across the city. The closure halted all flights while the army secured the airport and city. Operations are now allowed, but tight security and a city-wide curfew remain in place. Expect delays from extra screening, restricted airfield movements, and possible last-minute changes if unrest flares again. Airlines like IndiGo and Air India canceled flights yesterday, so service will be limited for the next day or two as schedules recover.

Overnight on Sep 9-10, Polish and Nato aircraft shot down several Russian drones infringing the EPWW/Warsaw FIR during strikes against Ukraine. Airspace over EPWA/Warsaw, EPRZ/Rzeszow and EPLB/Lublin was closed temporarily due to ‘unplanned military activity’ but has since reopened. Flight tracking shows overflights avoiding the airspace east of Warsaw towards Belarus. Poland has held emergency security meetings and is coordinating with Nato, but any further response is still TBD. While there are no active warnings in place, Poland has seen several spillover incidents since the Ukraine-Russia war began in 2022, at times leading to temporary airspace restrictions.

The CAA has reported a significant increase in GPS interference in Swedish airspace over the past year - both over land and water. Poland and the Baltic States are also being affected. This is believed to originate from Russia (likely military jamming) which is often traced to sources such as Kaliningrad or St. Petersburg. The issue is being actively addressed in an upcoming ICAO Assembly at the end of the month. The extent, duration and nature of the interference continues to present a safety risk for all aircraft operating in the region.

Israel carried out a precision strike in Doha today targeting senior Hamas leadership, with smoke reported over parts of the city. The exact location isn’t confirmed, but OTHH/Hamad and nearby airports remain open, and flights still appear to be operating normally at the moment. No official closures or restrictions have been announced so far, but crews should stay alert for sudden changes such as temporary airspace restrictions or reroutes if the situation escalates. Qatar has condemned the strike, labelling it a violation of sovereignty. The US Embassy has instituted a shelter-in-place order for their facilities, and has also advised US citizens in Qatar to shelter in place. OPSGROUP members should check the #crew_lounge channel Slack for updates and to share info.

Kathmandu’s airport is closed today, with all domestic and international flights suspended after violent protests escalated overnight. Heavy smoke near the airport is also affecting visibility on the main southern approach. Protestors stormed government buildings, fires broke out across the city, and the Nepali Army has been deployed to provide security across the city and at the airport. No Notam has been published yet, but authorities confirm the shutdown is real and indefinite until the situation stabilizes. Crews should not plan ops into Nepal today.

New member report of GPS interference (possible spoofing). The event occurred in the north, after waypoint POGOK enroute to ENTC/Tromso, Norway. One FMS position froze, the other was recovered using IRS and DME. The event lasted approx 45 mins (aircraft type Gulfstream). ATC reported this is normal ops for the region. Expect similar events when operating near the border with Russia. These disruptions are more likely the result of Russian military GPS jamming (often traced to sources such as Kaliningrad and the St Petersburg region) spilling over into adjacent airspace.

EASA has downgraded its airspace warning for Iran. The previous Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB), which advised operators to avoid Iranian airspace at all flight levels, has been withdrawn. It has been replaced by an information note recommending that operators conduct a thorough risk assessment before entry. This change appears linked to the ceasefire agreement with Israel, announced on June 23. The ceasefire has reduced immediate tensions, but if the conflict resumes, the risk to civil aviation could rise quickly - especially from sudden or uncoordinated military activity. The FAA continues to prohibit US operators from entering the OIIX/Tehran FIR at all levels. See safeairspace.net for more info.

Good news: Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire starting midnight local time on Monday July 28 (1700z), following five days of intense fighting along their shared border. Both sides have committed to reopening communication lines and setting up a monitoring mechanism to maintain the truce. While this is a major step toward de-escalation, the situation remains fragile - caution is still advised near the border region. No changes so far to the Phnom Penh FIR danger area (SFC–UNL). VDPF Notam A0092/25 remains active.

A major military escalation began on July 24 along the central Cambodia-Thailand border, approximately 100-150 NM north of VDSA/Siem Reap. Cross-border fighting has involved artillery exchanges and Thai airstrikes using F-16s. Both countries have activated danger areas along much of the border, with restrictions extending up to UNL. The Notams do not reference the conflict directly, but military activity may pose a hazard to civil aviation at all levels. Caution is advised throughout the region. Check our article for more info.

There’s major construction happening at the airport, including runway work and taxiway expansion. Some important changes are covered in the Notams (like the suspension of certain ILS and RNP approaches and some SIDs). But a few pretty critical operational details are missing, like the runway being shortened to 2300 meters, THR 27 being displaced by 900 meters, and the loss of key lighting systems. These aren’t mentioned in any Notams and are only published in SUPs 56/25 and 75/25. Crews relying just on Notams or ATIS won’t get warned about the shorter runway or displaced threshold.

A reminder for crews operating into Germany: the LBA Security Department is still carrying out unannounced security checks on business jets. These are not ramp checks but covert tests to see if crew follow proper access control procedures. An OPSGROUP member has reported that at EDDB/Berlin recently, two individuals boarded shortly after arrival, once passengers had disembarked, and asked to see the insurance certificate. One pilot was inside with the handler while the other was alone onboard - suggesting the timing may have been deliberate. We've had multiple reports of operators being charged over 300 euros for these inspections, with no option to opt out. Crews should question anyone trying to access the aircraft, and ensure one pilot remains onboard until departure. For more info on this issue, check our article.

A new state of emergency is in effect due to an alleged plot to criminally target government officials and public institutions. Authorities are especially concerned about the potential for robberies and kidnappings. There are no curfews in place, but police have the power to arrest and detain without a warrant. TTPP/Piarco airport itself has a recent history of violent crime (see our previous alerts). The US Dept of State continues to advise against travel to Trinidad and Tobago due to these kinds of risks - be wary of crew security at all times.

We’ve had another OPSGROUP member report on a recent incident at LFMN that highlights the risks of the strict APU restrictions there. After towing from the Kilo apron to a Stand, the aircraft experienced electrical issues when connected to the stand’s GPU. Several system warnings appeared, followed by a complete blackout. APU start was initially denied despite cabin overheating. A mobile GPU was then brought in but failed to supply power. By the time APU use was finally approved, key navigation and communication systems had been damaged. The flight departed under MEL and required extensive repairs, resulting in significant cost and disruption. Check Airport Spy for the full report.

EASA have revised their CZIBs for the Middle East, effective July 7. They have completely withdrawn their warnings for Israel and Jordan plus nearby airspace in the HECC/Cairo and OEJD/Jeddah FIRs. For Iran, they continue to recommend against flights at any level. For Iraq and Lebanon, they have reverted back to what they previously advised for these countries prior to the recent conflict; operators should avoid Iraq below FL320, and avoid Lebanon unless operating to/from OLBA/Beirut airport over water.

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

Open country information in new window