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At least seven people were killed in Kharkiv by Russian drones and missiles.
Russian officials reported that overnight on Saturday, Russia fired a barrage of drones and missiles into Ukraine, killing at least seven people, including two children, in Kharkiv. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, said that Russia had launched 480 drones as well as 29 missiles against the energy sector and rail infrastructure in the country. "Partners should respond to these brutal attacks against life," Zelenskiy said on Telegram. "Russia is not giving up its efforts to destroy Ukraine's critical infrastructure and residential areas, so?support should continue," Zelenskiy said. He urged partners to continue their air defence and weapon supplies. Oleh Syniehubov said, Kharkiv Regional Governor, that seven people were killed, including two kids, after a Russian missile struck a five-storey building. He said that rescue workers are still clearing rubble from the site. According to?Syniehubov, the Russians attacked Kharkiv and damaged seven residential apartment buildings, 'commercial and administrative' buildings, electricity distribution lines and cars. Officials in Ukraine said that Russia attacked four railway stations in central Ukraine and other rail infrastructure, as well as port infrastructure in the southern Odesa area. They also claimed that containers containing vegetable oil were set on fire and a grain storage facility was damaged. Reporting by Olena Hartmash. Tom Hogue, Mark Potter and Tom Hogue edited the article.
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Azerbaijan claims to have foiled Iranian plots, including a plan to attack a major pipeline
Azerbaijan has said that it prevented several "terrorist" sabotage plots by Iran's Islamic?Revolutionary?Guard?Corps (IRGC), which included a plot to target a major oil pipeline running -through the South –Caucasus and into?Turkey. According to the Azertag news agency, a statement from the State Security?Service late Friday night, targets included the Baku, Tbilisi, Ceyhan (BTC), oil pipeline and the Israeli Embassy in Azerbaijan. Also, there was an Ashkenazi Synagogue as well as a leader of an ancient Jewish group in Azerbaijan known by the Mountain Jews. Iran has not responded to the statement. BTC is a pipeline that travels through?Georgia, Turkey, and Europe to deliver oil. It also accounts for about a third of Israel's oil imports. The Middle East war is now in its second week. Any damage to the?infrastructure of the BTC pipeline could increase global energy prices. Azerbaijan's statement was made just one day after Baku had vowed retaliation for what it claimed were four Iranian drones that intruded into its Nakhchivan Exclave and injured four people, as well as damaging airport infrastructure. Iran denied that it had sent the drones to Azerbaijan. Baku reported that an investigation revealed that 'two Iranian citizens and an Azerbaijani citizen had colluded in bringing over seven kilograms C-4 'explosive?into Azerbaijan under the orders of the IRGC. Four people have been issued with international arrest warrants. Azerbaijan ordered the evacuation of its diplomats from Iran on Friday, citing'safety concerns.' This comes amid already strained relations between the two nations over Baku’s ties with Israel and Turkey.
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Qatar Airways will operate flights to Europe from Doha as the air traffic remains shut
Qatar Airways will operate a few return flights from Doha, Qatar to Europe this Saturday. However, commercial flights are still suspended due to the U.S. and Israel war on Iran that has closed Qatari airspace. Since the conflict escalated last Thursday, these flights are the first state-owned airlines to leave Doha. They will fly to London, Paris?, Madrid?, Rome?, and Frankfurt. Commercial flights were suspended because of the closure of Qatari Airspace. There was also a lack of air traffic in much of the Gulf region. Dubai, which is the busiest international airport, has been largely closed for the seventh day running, the worst travel disruption since COVID-19. Air Canada announced that it has extended the cancellations of its Toronto-Tel Aviv flight until May 2, due to war. Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirmed a safe operational corridor in a Saturday morning post on the social media platform X. The region's governments began?operating a repatriation flight on Wednesday in an effort to bring back tens and thousands of stranded citizens. Experts in the industry say that normal service will not be restored overnight, even if a ceasefire is declared immediately. Airlines still need to have time to reposition their aircraft, reassign the crew, rebuild schedules, and get clearance before they can resume safe flying. Airspace being severely restricted, airlines are forced to reroute their flights, carry more fuel or make extra refueling stops to protect against sudden diversions or long flight paths along safer corridors. COSTS SURGE FOR AIRLINES Airlines have begun to calculate the cost of the war as jet fuel prices are on the rise. The impact on bottom lines depends largely on how long the war continues. However, Delta Air CEO Scott Kirby stated that the "rising fuel price" will have a "meaningful effect" on its quarterly results. According to calculations, Delta and the three other major U.S. airlines could face an additional $5.8 billion in fuel costs if jet-fuel prices stay at this high level for the entire year. These carriers do not have insurance against fuel price spikes like their European counterparts. Donald Trump escalated the situation dramatically on Friday, demanding Iran's unconditional?surrender. These remarks could complicate a quick resolution to this conflict, which has disrupted global energy and commodities supplies and rattled the financial markets. Trump's remarks were made on social media only hours after Iran’s president announced unspecified countries began mediation efforts. (Reporting and editing by Parth Chandna)
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Panama Canal transit increased by 2.8% in January despite tensions
According to a report by the Panama Canal Authority, which was seen on Friday, there has been a 2.8% rise in vessel 'transits' in the first four months of the fiscal year. According to the report, most of the traffic increase was registered by tankers transporting energy products such as liquefied gas (LNG), dry bulk carriers and car carriers. This growth represents?114 more transits than the same period a previous year, to?a maximum of 4,156 vessels during the four-month span. The report states that the demand remained?solid?despite increased global trade volatility and new tariffs. The report said that "Tanker (transits)," a measure of the volume of goods transported, increased 11.2%. This was due to an increase in shipments from United States, due to a higher demand from South Korea, Mexico and Guatemala for fuels and Methanol, as a result from trade agreements and tariff reductions. Analysts predict that more vessels will be passing through Panama carrying U.S. LNG to reach?destinations? in Asia if the Strait of Hormuz?problems persist amid the U.S. - Iran conflict. This is already forcing vessel reroutes. The Panama Canal is "operating in a reliable and stable manner" despite geopolitical uncertainty, increasing steadily the number of transits daily and maintaining predictable service levels for our clients," it said. After the U.S. - Iran conflict, the authority didn't provide specific statistics but stated that it was monitoring maritime trade.
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Gol, a Brazilian airline, will launch new long-haul routes out of Rio using the A330.
Gol's Chief executive announced that the Brazilian airline will be using Rio de Janeiro's Galeao International Airport as its hub to receive the new Airbus A330 900 aircraft joining the fleet. Gol operated Boeing 737s exclusively until now. Celso Ferer, Gol's CEO, said that the new aircraft will be followed by a new route direct between Rio and New York beginning in July. He made this statement at an event in Galeao with Brazil's president Luiz inacio Lula. The firm released a statement later that said, "The merger between two 'key tourism and business centers in South and North America opens up a range of options and possibilities for customers throughout the continent." The airline will initially receive five A330-900s. These are wide-body aircraft that can fly routes up to 15 hours long. The company will gradually integrate the planes into its fleet between 2026-2027. Sources had told us earlier that Gol was going to announce 'Galeao Airport' as the hub of its new Airbus A330900. Ferrer stated that Gol will also offer direct flights from Rio to Paris, Lisbon and other European cities starting late this year. Sources said that Gol had sought slots in major European cities, such as Porto and London. However, not all of these will be destinations. (Reporting by Gabriel Araujo and Luciana Magalhaes in Sao Paulo, Rodrigo Viga Gaier in Rio de Janeiro; Editing by Deepa Babington)
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Pentagon and FAA will conduct tests on high-energy laser anti-drone system in New Mexico
The Pentagon announced on Friday that it would 'conduct tests with the Federal Aviation Administration in New Mexico this weekend of high-energy lasers used to combat threatening drones. The Pentagon stated that "this upcoming event will address FAA safety concerns, while gathering data on the material effects of lasers on aircraft surrogates. It will also validate the functionality and safety shutoff systems for automated safety, as well as inform analyses to ensure the safety of aircrews' eyes." On February 25, the U.S. Military erroneously shot down a government-owned drone using a laser-based system. The 'FAA expanded the area around Fort Hancock in Texas where flights were banned after the 'FAA announced on February 18 that it would halt all flights at the airport near El Paso for 10 days, only to reverse its decision and lift the order after eight hours. Bradbury, the U.S. deputy transportation secretary, said in an interview on Friday that the FAA must test the system to "get comfortable" with its limitations, and how it could be adjusted or controlled. Bradbury stated that the FAA was determined to create a framework so they are confident in the safety of the airspace with the system being used and won't need to sign-off on individual uses. Bradbury stated that they were working fast to complete the safety assessment. Bradbury said that both parties had a critical job to complete. After a classified briefing, lawmakers said that the incidents demonstrated a need for'significantly improved coordination. Ted Cruz, Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, said: "It was clear that there were challenges when it came to operationalizing counter-drone technologies." (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)
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US agency to insure maritime losses up to $20 billion in Gulf
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation announced on Friday that the U.S. would provide reinsurance for losses of up to $20 billion in the Gulf region. This will help oil and gas shipping companies maintain confidence during the war against Iran. The President Donald Trump ordered on Tuesday the DFC to provide financial guarantees and political risk insurance for maritime trade within the Gulf. This was after the transit of?oil tankers and liquefied gas tanks had come to a standstill in the Strait of Hormuz, which is located off Iran. DFC stated that the coverage would be rolled out and initially focused on cargo, hull and machinery insurance. DFC did not provide any details, but said that it would work with preferred American insurance companies. The U.S. Treasury Department, DFC and U.S. Central Command are working together to determine the next steps in the plan. The Strait has been largely blocked by oil shipments. Some tankers have been damaged?by strikes, while others are stranded. War-risk insurance premiums have increased and some providers have reduced or removed coverage. (Reporting and editing by Louise Heavens, Chizu Nomiyama and Chizu Nomiyama.
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Bloomberg News reports that Boeing is close to a 500-jet order with the Trump-Xi Summit.
Bloomberg 'News, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported that Boeing is close to announcing a 500 aircraft order for 737 Max Jets. This will be announced when U.S. president Donald Trump makes his first state visit to China in 2017. According to the report, both sides are in negotiations for a widebody deal that would include 'about 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X jets. Boeing did not respond immediately to a comment request. In afternoon trading, shares of the company rose 3.7%. Trump will visit China between March 31 and April 2. Xi is expected to visit Washington in later this year. The move comes after Trump threatened to restrict the export of Boeing parts to China in response to Chinese restrictions on rare earth minerals. Beijing ordered Chinese airlines in April to stop temporarily?taking delivery of new Boeing 'jets during their clashes over trade with Trump. Following Trump's visits, the planemaker has also landed several major sales from foreign airlines.
Airline pilots are faced with increasing stress as the war continues to spread. They must contend with drones and missiles.
In recent years, airline pilots have been faced with a growing number of risks. From drone incursions to conflict-induced flight paths, the dangers are increasing. The U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran have made the skies more dangerous, increasing the pressure for those who fly through them.
As a result of the 'outbreak of war' in the Middle East, hundreds of ballistic rockets and attack drones have been launched above some of the busiest airports around the globe. Tehran has retaliated against the U.S., and its allies by hitting airports. Scores of flights were grounded from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. A small number of rescue flights have been able to reach thousands of passengers.
Eight pilots and more than half a dozen aviation and security experts said that the accumulation of conflicts, from Ukraine to Afghanistan to Israel has increased the burden for pilots. They are forced to manage a shrinking airspace as well as the use of military drones away from active war zones. This has increased the stress on pilots who are desperate to ensure the safety of themselves and their passengers.
"We aren't military pilots." Tanja Harter is a Middle East-experienced pilot and the president of the European Cockpit Association.
She said that the current crisis was the latest of a series of security threats to the aviation sector over the years. This could cause pilots "fear and worry." She said that airlines have peer-to-peer programs, and as a pilot, she would not want "to share airspace with missiles."
Industry experts say that airspace safety has deteriorated over the past two and a half years due to an increase in conflicts. This is due to a combination GPS spoofing, which involves intentionally tricking planes as their location, and increased drones and missiles.
Air France's flight from the United Arab Emirates to return stranded French nationals was forced to turn back on Thursday due to missiles. On Friday, a Lufthansa flight diverted to Cairo from Riyadh due to regional security concerns.
FLYING HIGHER IS THE BEST WAY TO AVOID MISSILES
The head of Lebanon's Civil Aviation said that pilots trained in the Middle East have grown accustomed to emergency situations. The escalating war put these skills to the ultimate test. On March 5, video footage showed smoke rising from buildings in Beirut as planes took off.
"Lebanon's Civil Aviation Authority Director General, Captain Mohammed Aziz said that Middle East pilots are always facing crises. We trained them from the beginning on how to handle contingencies, emergency situations and other things."
No one can guarantee they won't or won't bomb an airport.
One Middle East Airlines pilot with over a decade's experience says routes to Beirut are more complicated. He said that shoulder-fired missiles used by the Lebanese army had a maximum range of 15,000. Pilots therefore increased their altitude in order to avoid being hit. They also carried extra fuel to be prepared in case of a forced divert.
Most missile strikes are still far enough away to not be a threat, and most pilots are too busy to even think about them.
He said, "You are so busy on the plane making sure that you have permission to land and everything is in order that you don't even have time to think about what's going on outside the plane."
DRONES DISRUPT EUROPEAN AERIALPORTS
Risques are not limited to the Middle East. Drones have been a major weapon for both sides since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Drone disruptions have been reported in airports from Stockholm to Munich - though the cause has not yet been confirmed.
Airline Captain Christian von D'Ahe is concerned by this 'emerging' threat. He has been a commercial pilot for over 15 years, and is the head of the Danish Air Line Pilots Association.
Von D'Ahe stated that drones were not easy to detect. We can see them flying in the sky, and they are very small. "So sooner or later something will happen."
Drones that damage an aircraft's wings or engines can cause a total loss of power.
Drones, on the other hand, do not emit any signal. This leaves pilots in a 'dark place. Airport radars are unable to detect drones. There are specialised radars, but they are usually operated by the military or law enforcement.
Dedrone, which produces counterdrone technologies, reported that there will be over 1.2 millions drone?violations? in the U.S. by 2025.
There's not much you can do
Airports can counter drones using radar, frequency sensors, and jamming devices, while other systems can "spoof them off their course". Airports are not allowed to shoot down drones due to safety concerns.
Tim Friebe is an air traffic controller based in Germany, and vice president of the Air Traffic Controllers European Unions Coordination. He said that drones are a growing threat to airports.
We have reports from pilots or controllers who spot drones. He said that there is not much one can do other than shutting down an airport.
According to a half dozen industry officials, drones caused the closure of some of the biggest airports in the world, from Munich to London Gatwick, last year. This prompted operators to upgrade their foreign object detection and drone detection systems.
Moritz Burger is a German commercial pilot who recalled seeing an object which looked like a ballon with a structure beneath it as he was about to arrive at a European Airport.
I was looking out of the window when an object passed just below our plane. He said that he could only see it for a maximum of two seconds. It was a startling sight and he had no time to react.
When you come across a near miss or a passing object, the time is too short to react. It is therefore unrealistic to think that pilots can fly around an object of this size. "There's not much we can do."
(source: Reuters)