Safety
EASA Extends Warning over Flights in Russian Airspace
Updated conflict zone information bulletin follows destruction of Azerbaijan Airlines flight
Caspian Sea
EASA has warned of increased risks to civil aircraft at all altitudes across an expanded area of Russian airspace in the wake of the recent destruction of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight en route to Grozny. © Google Maps

EASA has issued a revised conflict zone information bulletin (CZIB), updating its safety guidance around flights in Russian airspace. The update issued on January 9 specifically recommends against operations at all flight levels in Russian Federation airspace west of longitude 60 degrees east.

The European aviation safety agency said the latest CZIB is intended to take account of escalating risks resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and especially those relating to Russian air defense systems and drones. Specifically, the advisory draws attention to the December 25 incident in which an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft crashed after being intercepted by Russian forces during a flight from Baku to Grozny. The flight diverted over the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan.