Virgin pilot alerted Australia to Chinese navy’s live-fire drill in Tasman Sea
Australia's air traffic authority learned about Chinese warships conducting live-fire exercises off its east coast from a Virgin Australia pilot, not through official channels. The pilot informed an Australian air traffic controller about a foreign warship broadcasting live-firing exercises 300 nautical miles east of the coast, prompting Airservices Australia to issue a hazard alert to commercial pilots.
Rob Sharp, CEO of Airservices Australia, testified that the Department of Defence was notified shortly after the pilot's report. In response, 49 flights were diverted around the area during the exercises, which continued over the weekend. This incident occurred amid ongoing tensions between Beijing and Canberra regarding the military exercises.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Australia's air traffic authority learned about Chinese warships conducting live-fire exercises off its east coast from a Virgin Australia pilot, not through official channels. The pilot informed an Australian air traffic controller about a foreign warship broadcasting live-firing exercises 300 nautical miles east of the coast, prompting Airservices Australia to issue a hazard alert to commercial pilots.
Rob Sharp, CEO of Airservices Australia, testified that the Department of Defence was notified shortly after the pilot's report. In response, 49 flights were diverted around the area during the exercises, which continued over the weekend. This incident occurred amid ongoing tensions between Beijing and Canberra regarding the military exercises.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
