Association cites escalating West Asia conflict, calls for independent security assessment before services continue
India’s largest pilots’ association has urged the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to temporarily suspend commercial flights operated by Indian carriers to high-risk destinations in the Gulf, citing growing security concerns arising from the escalating conflict in West Asia.
In a letter to the ministry and the aviation regulator, the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) said commercial flights to destinations including Dubai and Abu Dhabi should be halted until a comprehensive threat assessment is conducted by national security agencies, intelligence authorities and aviation safety experts. The association argued that the rapidly evolving security situation could expose passengers, crew and aircraft to unacceptable risks.
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ALPA India expressed concern over potential hazards such as military activity, airspace restrictions, GPS signal interference and the possibility of civilian aircraft being caught in conflict zones
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It stressed that aviation safety should remain the foremost priority and called for decisions based on independent risk evaluations rather than commercial considerations
The appeal comes as tensions across parts of West Asia continue to affect regional air traffic. Several international airlines have already adjusted flight schedules, altered routes or suspended operations to certain destinations following security advisories and changing airspace conditions.
The pilots’ body also requested the government to establish clear safety protocols for flights operating near conflict-affected regions and ensure that any decision to resume normal operations is supported by a detailed assessment of the prevailing security environment.
At the time of publication, the Civil Aviation Ministry and the DGCA had not publicly responded to the association’s latest request. Indian airlines, meanwhile, continue to monitor developments in the region while coordinating with aviation authorities and security agencies to ensure passenger and crew safety.
