Airline pilots have faced escalating risks in recent years, from drone incursions to flight paths squeezed by conflict. The outbreak of war in the Middle East has put hundreds of ballistic missiles and attack drones into the skies above some of the world's busiest airports. "Middle East pilots have always faced crises, so from the start we trained how to deal with contingencies, emergencies and everything else," said Captain Mohammed Aziz, director general of Lebanon's civil aviation authority. One Middle East Airlines' pilot with a decade of experience said routes to Beirut have become more complex. Drones disrupt European airportsThe risks are not confined to the Middle East.

Source: The Telegraph March 07, 2026 13:18 UTC