- Egypt bans flights over Iran's capital at night
Egypt has banned its airlines from flying over Iran's capital, Tehran, for Thursday night. A safety notice from Egypt's civil aviation authority advises all Egyptian airlines to avoid flying over Tehran, with plans for flights over this area being rejected. The instruction is effective from 3 AM Thursday (MEZ) for three hours.
Such a warning from Egypt is "very unusual," wrote the OPS Group, which informs its members about risks and changes in international air traffic. "It is possible that this is an indication of an Iranian response to Israel," the group wrote, referring to a potential upcoming attack that has been speculated about for days. In such a case, there could be many disruptions in air traffic.
Egypt refers to Iranian warning
Egypt's civil aviation authority referred to a warning from Iranian authorities that military exercises are planned around the same time in the country. The aim of the Egyptian authority's notice is to protect passengers and air traffic.
Previously, Jordan had already prepared aircraft in its airspace for a possible Iranian attack on Israel. All incoming aircraft were temporarily asked to refuel with enough fuel for an additional 45 minutes of flight time. An Iranian attack against Israel could also take place in the sky over Jordan, as it did in April.
After the killing of Hamas' foreign chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Iran and the killing of a military commander of the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, the risk of a major war in the Middle East has increased significantly. Iran, Hezbollah, and the Islamist Hamas have all threatened retaliation against Israel.
The information desk of the international airport in Tehran described the situation in the Iranian airspace as normal. Only some airlines like Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines had temporarily suspended their flights to Tehran due to a possible military conflict with Israel. Turkish Airlines has stopped night flights.
The Commission at Egypt's civil aviation authority consulted with The Commission of Iran's civil aviation to understand the specifics of the military exercises mentioned in their warning. To maintain safety and security, The Commission in Egypt decided to extend the ban on flights over Tehran for an additional period.
