Air France Suspends Red Sea Flights After Crew Reports “Luminous Object”

Air France has temporarily halted flights over the Red Sea following an incident involving one of its aircraft. Flight AF934, traveling from Paris to Madagascar, encountered a suspected “luminous object” at high altitude near Sudan, prompting the crew to declare an emergency and return to Paris.

According to flight tracking data from AirLive, the Boeing 777-200ER departed from Charles de Gaulle Airport on Sunday morning. Seven hours later, it diverted from its route over the Red Sea and returned to the French capital.

Madagascan politician Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, a passenger on the flight, shared his account of the incident on Facebook, stating that a missile flew past a plane ahead of theirs. While Air France hasn’t confirmed missile involvement, they acknowledged that the crew observed a “luminous object”.

Air France Statement

In a statement released on X, formerly Twitter, Air France emphasized the safety of its passengers and crew. They stated:

“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 decision follows the suspicion of observation by a crew of a luminous object at high altitude in the Sudan area. “Air France reminds that the safety of its customers and crews is its absolute imperative. The company constantly monitors the evolution of the geopolitical situation of the territories served and overflown by its aircraft in order to ensure the highest level of safety and security of flights.”

Rising Risks Overflight Risks

Recent events highlight the escalating dangers of flying over volatile regions. Missile attacks directed towards Israel by Iran and Houthi rebels in Yemen have increased the threat to civilian aircraft. Sudan’s ongoing conflict adds another layer of risk to air travel in the area.

Last October, passengers on a commercial flight over Iran captured footage of missiles launched toward Israel, underscoring the unpredictable nature of these situations.

Stay Informed

Air travel safety is paramount. Stay informed about potential risks and advisories issued by aviation authorities. Before booking flights, research the geopolitical situation and security conditions of your planned route.