Commercial airline pilots worldwide are experiencing increased stress and safety concerns as multiple global conflicts introduce new hazards including missiles, attack drones, and GPS interference. The ongoing Middle East war and other international conflicts have forced pilots to navigate shrinking airspace while managing threats they weren’t trained to handle.
Commercial airline pilots across the globe are confronting unprecedented safety challenges as expanding military conflicts introduce missiles and unmanned aircraft into civilian airspace, creating dangerous conditions that aviation professionals say they weren’t prepared to handle.
The recent escalation of Middle Eastern warfare has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and attack drones into airspace above some of the planet’s busiest aviation hubs. Iran’s retaliatory strikes against the United States and allied nations have targeted airports, forcing the cancellation of numerous flights from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, while only limited rescue operations have managed to evacuate thousands of stranded travelers.
Aviation industry professionals interviewed by Reuters – including eight pilots and multiple aviation security experts – describe how multiple simultaneous conflicts spanning from Ukraine to Afghanistan and Israel have created mounting pressure on flight crews, who must now navigate increasingly restricted airspace while contending with military drone activity extending well beyond active combat zones. This situation has intensified mental health challenges for pilots committed to protecting themselves and their passengers.
“We are not military pilots. We are not trained to deal with these kinds of threats in the air,” stated Tanja Harter, a pilot with Middle East experience who serves as president of the European Cockpit Association.
Harter explained that the current situation represents the most recent in a series of security challenges facing the aviation sector over recent years, potentially causing “fear and anxiety” among pilots. While airlines have established peer support programs to address these concerns, she noted that as a pilot, she would prefer not to “share airspace with missiles.”
Industry specialists report that airspace security has deteriorated significantly over the past two and a half years as conflicts have expanded, driven by a combination of GPS manipulation – where aircraft positioning systems are deliberately compromised – and increased presence of missiles and drones.
Recent incidents highlight these dangers: An Air France evacuation flight intended to transport stranded French citizens from the United Arab Emirates was forced to return due to missile activity on Thursday, while a Lufthansa pilot diverted from Riyadh to Cairo on Friday citing regional security concerns.
Aviation professionals working in Middle Eastern regions have developed extensive experience managing emergency situations, according to Lebanon’s civil aviation leadership. The current conflict escalation has rapidly tested these abilities, with March 5 video footage showing aircraft departing Beirut’s airport while smoke rose over the Lebanese capital’s buildings.
“Middle East pilots have always faced crises, so from the start we trained how to deal with contingencies, emergencies and everything else,” explained Captain Mohammed Aziz, who directs Lebanon’s civil aviation authority.
“No one can give you a guarantee that they won’t bomb the airport or will bomb the airport,” he added.
A Middle East Airlines pilot with ten years of experience described how Beirut routes have grown increasingly complicated. Previously, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft weapons in Lebanon typically reached 15,000 feet, prompting pilots to fly at higher altitudes for safety, while aircraft frequently carried additional fuel for potential diversions.
However, most missile strikes occur at sufficient distance to avoid direct risk, and pilots often remain too occupied with flight operations to dwell on external threats.
“You’re actually busy enough on the plane trying to make sure you have clearance to land, that everything is in order, so you don’t have time to process your emotions over what’s happening outside the plane,” the pilot explained.
The dangers extend beyond Middle Eastern regions. Following Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion, unmanned aircraft have become primary weapons for both sides. European airports from Stockholm to Munich have experienced drone-related disruptions, though suspected connections to the conflict remain unconfirmed.
Captain Christian von D’Ahe, who has piloted commercial aircraft for 15 years and leads Denmark’s Air Line Pilots Association, expressed concern about this developing threat.
“Drones are not easily detected,” von D’Ahe observed. “We can see them in the air, and they’re very small. So sooner or later, something will happen.”
Drone impacts on aircraft engines could result in complete power failure, while wing damage could severely compromise a plane’s maneuverability capabilities.
Most registered aircraft transmit identification signals through transponders that communicate with radar systems, but drones lack this technology, leaving pilots without warning. Standard airport radar systems struggle to detect drones, while specialized detection equipment is typically controlled by law enforcement or military agencies.
Dedrone, a counter-drone technology manufacturer, reported over 1.2 million drone violations occurred in the United States during 2023, with increases expected in future years.
Airports can deploy radar systems, frequency sensors, and jamming equipment to counter drones, with some systems capable of redirecting them off course. However, safety regulations prevent airports from shooting down drones.
Tim Friebe, a German air traffic controller and vice president of the Air Traffic Controllers European Unions Coordination, characterized drones as a “threat that is growing,” while noting airports often have few response options available.
“For now we have reports, pilot reports, or sometimes controllers spot drones. The problem is there’s not much you can do except shutting down the airport,” he stated.
Drone incidents forced closures at major international airports including Munich and London’s Gatwick last year, prompting operators to enhance their foreign object and drone detection capabilities, according to multiple industry officials.
Moritz Burger, a commercial pilot operating from Germany, recalled observing what appeared to be a balloon with attached structure while approaching a European airport for landing.
“I was looking out of the window and suddenly there appeared an object that passed by just below our aircraft. We could see it for maybe one, maximum two seconds,” he described, noting the incident was startling and provided no opportunity for evasive maneuvers.
“When you encounter such a near-miss or some passing object, there is not enough time to react. So it is unrealistic to expect that pilots could fly around such an object. There’s pretty much nothing we can do,” Burger concluded.
