EASA Informs Operators of Russian Missile Hazard

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published a Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) to inform airspace users that missile launches from the Caspian Sea took place on October 6 to 7. The missiles, launched by Russian war ships from the southern Caspian, crossed Iranian and Iraqi airspace before striking targets near the northern Syrian city of Raqqa and in northwest Syria, near the Turkish border.

EASA noted that the missiles “necessarily” crossed Iran and Iraq below flight paths typically used by commercial transport airplanes. Although the SIB contained no specific recommendations, EASA said it issued the bulletin to inform airspace users of the hazard posed by the missile launches.

Last Wednesday Russia said it fired 26 missiles at 11 Islamic State targets in northern and northwest Syria. Although U.S. officials reportedly told CNN that four of the missiles landed in Iran, Russia’s defense ministry denied the accusation, insisting that all of them hit their targets.