ICAO revises conflict zone aviation safety guidance following Ukraine’s warning

The organization said long-range weapons, drones, radio-frequency interference with satellite navigation systems and advanced air defense systems are among the military technologies that pose a threat to civilian aircraft.

"ICAO notes an increased risk of civil aircraft being targeted or caught in crossfire, and while the aviation industry can reroute flights and maintain operations during conflicts, such operational flexibility does not eliminate the fundamental safety threat," the statement said.

The organization called on all member states to make stronger commitments to protecting aircraft from all conflict-related risks. Countries should assess the safety of the airspace they control, promptly share information about threats and improve coordination between military and civilian authorities to prevent civilian aircraft from being mistakenly identified as military targets, the statement said.

ICAO is updating its safety recommendations related to military activities and its guidance on assessing risks to aircraft operations over or near conflict zones. The focus is now on how authorities and airlines can more effectively assess threats.

The statement also stressed that the Convention on International Civil Aviation and an ICAO Assembly resolution prohibit the use of weapons against civilian aircraft.

ICAO's statement came after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had formally warned the International Civil Aviation Organization about the dangers in Russian airspace and urged airlines to avoid flying over Russia.

On Sept. 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the war in Ukraine, launched by Russia, was beginning to "close the skies" over the country. The widespread presence of drones is making Russian airspace increasingly dangerous for civilian aviation.

"Today, we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer and everyone who still uses key Russian airports: Russian skies are becoming completely unsafe. Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such, not a single civilian aircraft. There will simply be drones in Russian skies, and this must be taken into account," Zelenskyy said.

Vladimir Putin called Zelenskyy's remarks "a bid for state terrorism" and claimed that Moscow does not negotiate with "terrorists," despite Russia having launched the war and continuing to attack Ukrainian civilians.