EASA issues risk alert for Pakistan flights

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has advised airlines not to fly below FL 260 altitude while flying over Lahore and Karachi due to the “current security situation in Pakistan”.

"There is a continued possible threat to civil aviation resulting in a high risk to operation at altitudes below FL 260," the EASA stated in its most recent advisory.

"In addition," it continued, "the Kashmir region continues to be the scene of a territorial dispute with sporadic military operations posing a potential risk to civil aviation due to a potential risk for misidentification in case of military escalation, particularly in the FIR Lahore (OPLR)."

EASA has advised air operators to take this information and any other relevant information into account in their own risk assessments, alongside any available guidance or directions from their national authority as appropriate.

The EU's advisory was rejected by the Aircraft Owners and Operators Association of Pakistan (AOOA).

“AOOA disagree with the advisory of EASA as it’s just over boarding and creating an excuse to exclude Pakistan from an economic activity by creating scares.”

“Not only the airspace but all the airports in Pakistan are safe for flight operations and several commercial and private flights operate in Pakistan on daily basis,” it added.

It is important to note that the organization previously released a comparable advisory in November of last year.