Air France announced on Wednesday that it is investigating how a Paris-Dubai flight passed over Iraq during an Iranian missile attack targeting Israel. On October 1, Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, necessitating their passage through Iraqi airspace.
Flight AF662 entered Iraqi territory just before the assault commenced, shortly before Air France instructed its aircraft to avoid Iraqi airspace, which had not yet been officially closed. Reports indicate that the pilots observed missiles streaking across the night sky, while Iraqi air traffic control wished them “good luck.”
Air France stated that it had been aware of an impending missile attack on Israel and proactively decided to suspend flights over Iraq starting at 1700 GMT. The flight was in the airspace during the attack around 1645 GMT and exited Iraq before the airspace closure at 1756 GMT.
The airline has already been avoiding airspace over Israel, Lebanon, and Iran due to rising regional tensions. An internal investigation into the incident has been initiated, although Air France did not confirm whether the pilots visually identified the missiles, which typically travel at altitudes higher than commercial flights.
Laurent Veque, a board member of the National Union of Airline Pilots, emphasized the need for clarity on the incident, acknowledging that the flight found itself in the Iraqi corridor amid the hostilities initiated by Iran.
The missile attack followed the Israeli airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah near Beirut the previous week. While many missiles were intercepted, two Israelis sustained injuries, and one Palestinian was killed during the assault.