The company Air France took a radical precautionary decision by announcing the immediate suspension and until further notice of all its flights above the Red Sea. This measure follows the observation, by a crew, of a bright object at high altitude in the Sudan region, raising questions about its exact nature and air security in this area.
A mysterious luminous object observed above Sudan
It was during a flight crossing Sudanese airspace that Air France crew members spotted this object, described as “luminous” and to haute altitude. If the company did not detail the exact appearance of this phenomenon, it quickly reacted by choosing to change the itinerary of multiple flights to avoid the affected area.
Speculation has emerged, particularly on social media, where some have hypothesized a missile from the Sudanese region. However, no official confirmation has been given as to the exact nature of the observed object.
Operational impact for Air France and diversion of several flights
Following this suspension decision, certain Air France planes en route to their destinations in Africa or the Arabian Peninsula were forced to turn around. Flight AF934, linking Paris to Antananarivo, turned back shortly after entering Egyptian airspace, finally landing at Charles-de-Gaulle airport in the early evening.
According to data collected by FlightRadar24several devices were thus diverted, showing the extent of the security measure adopted by the company. This precaution demonstrates Air France's increased vigilance with regard to geopolitical situations and the importance it attaches to the safety of its passengers.
A sensitive geopolitical context for aviation
Air France is no stranger to adjusting trajectories based on regional tensions. At the beginning of October, an Air France flight flying over Iraq was diverted after the shooting of Iranian missiles towards Israel. In a complex geopolitical context, the French company continues to constantly monitor the evolution of security situations in the areas served.
For now, no date resumption of flights over the Red Sea has not been communicated. The company says it will reassess the situation based on developments and risk analysis. At the same time, Air France is maintaining the suspension of its flights to Beirut until November 30, while postponing the resumption of connections with Tel-Aviv.
This exceptional suspension of overflights underlines Air France's sustained attention to geopolitical developments, an imperative to guarantee the safety of long-haul journeys crossing risk zones.
