Air France has suspended flights over the Red Sea after pilots spotted a ‘luminous object’ near Sudan on Sunday 3 November.
An Air France crew sighted what it described as a luminous object at high altitude off the coast of Sudan.
Two scheduled flights were outbound from Paris to Madagascar and Nairobi at the time of the alert. As their flight paths would transit the region, Air France recalled both to Paris as a precaution.
Air France is now routing flights north over the ocean, then west through Oman and Saudi Arabia to avoid the area of concern.
The airline took to social media to advise of the situation. Air France said that it had adopted the measure to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew.
“As a precautionary measure, Air France has decided to suspend flights over the Red Sea area until further notice. As a result, the itinerary of some of its flights has been modified.”
“Depending on their location, some aircraft may have turned around and returned to land at their departure airport. Such as flight AF934 from Paris to Antananarivo.”
This incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with recent missile attacks launched by Houthi forces in Yemen.
Th the time of writing, the nature and origin of the luminous object remains unconfirmed. In the interim, Air France has prioritized safety and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Cancellation and Rerouting of Flights
The suspension of flights caused disruptions for some passengers, with certain flights being rerouted or canceled altogether.
The airline cancelled both flight AF934 from Paris to Antananarivo, Madagascar and flight AF814 from Paris to Nairobi. In both cases, the aircraft performing the services returned to the origin airport Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG).
Air France rerouted three flights, resulting in extended flight times. These were AF473 (Mauritius-Paris), AF648 (Paris-La Reunion) and AF470 (Paris-Mauritius).
Air France has been working to accommodate affected passengers and provide alternative travel arrangements.
Summary
Airspace in the region has not yet been officially closed. Air France currently remains the only carrier to have adopted precautionary measures.
The airline emphasized that the safety of passenger and operating crews remains its overriding priority. It has stressed that it will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure their well-being.
Further updates on the situation are expected as investigations continue.
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