EU Aviation Safety Agency bans use of Israeli and Lebanese airspace

RIGA - In response to the situation in the Middle East, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has temporarily banned EU carriers from using the airspace of Israel and Lebanon, Aivis Vincevs, head of operational situations at the Latvian Civil Aviation Agency, told LETA.

The EASA ban is currently in force until October 31, but may be adjusted depending on the situation in the Middle East.

The decision, set out in EASA's report, is based on the information available to EASA in relation to the safe conduct of flights. In the light of the current conflict between the terrorist group Hizbollah and Israel, the Agency has concluded that there is a high safety risk to civil aviation aircraft.

The safety risk is increased by the fact that both sides use military-grade drones and ballistic missiles, which are deployed at different altitudes.

EASA will continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East to assess whether the risks to civil aviation are increasing or decreasing.