Air France announced that it has suspended flights over the Red Sea "until further notice" following an unusual sighting by one of its crews.
A Critical Flight Path
The decision was prompted after crew members reported spotting a “bright object at high altitude” in the Sudan area, according to a post by the airline on the social platform X (formerly Twitter), as reported by Ziare.
The region of the Red Sea, stretching from East Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, is a critical flight path for many long-haul routes, according to Ziare.
According to Air Plus News, two Air France flights — one bound for Madagascar and another for Kenya—were rerouted back to Paris on the same day.
Additionally, a flight from Paris to Réunion was delayed until the following day, and a Mauritius-Paris route was modified to avoid the affected airspace.
A Precautionary Move
In a statement, Air France clarified that suspending flights over the Red Sea is a precautionary move.
Depending on their location, some flights turned back mid-route to ensure passenger and crew safety, including flight AF934 from Paris to Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Speculation about the nature of the “bright object” has circulated online, with one user suggesting that a missile may have been fired from Sudan.
Air France has denied this, stating, “We do not confirm any information about a missile being launched toward an Air France aircraft.” The airline emphasized that the decision to return flight AF934 was solely precautionary.
“Safety is our top priority,” Air France said, reiterating its commitment to monitoring geopolitical developments across all serviced and overflown territories to uphold the highest standards of flight safety.
