According to our information, an Air France flight flew over Iraq at the time of the Iranian missile attacks on Israel on October 1.
The airline, which refers to an “adverse event”, has launched an internal investigation.
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Middle East: fear of widespread conflict
A plane close to the missiles. Since this Wednesday, Air France has found itself at the heart of an internal imbroglio. According to our information, a flight from the company flew over Iraq on October 1, as Iran began its missile attacks against Israel. However, the Iraqi air corridor is located right in the middle of the two countries.
What happened
On Tuesday, October 1, as Iran attacked Israel, many planes were ordered to turn around and avoid Iraqi airspace, at the risk of finding themselves in the trajectory of the missiles. Many planes… except a few, including Air France flight AF662. The latter, who left Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport for Dubai, continued his route via Iraq.
Still according to our information, the pilots “I saw the missiles from the cockpit”and Iraqi air traffic control would have even wished them ” good luck “. Contacted by us, Air France acknowledges that flight AF662 did indeed fly over Iraq while respecting the Iraqi flight corridor.
Angry pilots union
Enough to arouse the anger of the national union of airline pilots. Questioned on LCI, one of the members of the Air France section, Laurent Véque, deplores an incident “incomprehensible”. “The risk of outbreak of hostilities was known before the plane entered this area. It is therefore impossible to take it”he declared (see video at the top of this article), wondering about the different instructions given to Air France crews flying over the region. “The security department within the company is fully responsible. He asked the planes to turn around, and not this one. For us, trust is broken. »
An internal investigation launched
After the LCI revelations, an internal investigation was opened by Air France. In a press release we received, management asserts “that no rules were broken”but it is “an ‘adverse event’ within the meaning of our safety management system”. The company also details the flight schedules for the AF662. The plane “left Iraqi airspace around 5 p.m. universal time”while “Iraqi authorities closed their airspace at 5:56 p.m.”she justifies.
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Pending the conclusions of the internal investigation, entrusted to the general risk management, “precautionary measures are being implemented and some direct participants in the event are temporarily suspended from their duties”.
