Safety
Aircraft Operators Face Multiple Risks Around Israel's Airspace
Missiles pose a threat to aircraft at all altitudes, warn security analysts
Airspace within a 200 nm radius of Tel Aviv is now viewed as being at risk.
Civil aircraft operating over Israel, Lebanon, and Syria are viewed as being potentially at risk from missiles. (Image: Google Maps)

Airspace over Israel and neighboring countries is becoming increasingly hazardous for air traffic, according to security analysts monitoring the conflict initiated by Gaza-based Hamas forces on October 7. Business aviation flights in and out of Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (LLBG) are effectively blocked, with access limited to scheduled flights and chartered airliners.

During a webinar recording distributed on Friday morning, Osprey Flight Solutions’ chief intelligence officer Matthew Borie warned operators about the risk of a civil aircraft being shot down inadvertently by high-altitude, long-range air defense missiles fired from Iran-backed groups in Lebanon or Syria. Aviation regulators from the U.S., Europe, the UK, and Canada have all warned of ongoing risks from missiles and GPS/GNSS signal interference within a 200-nm radius of Israel.