Air France was forced to suspend flights over the Red Sea after one of its flight crews reported seeing a ‘luminous object’ in the sky around Sudan.
Air France told AeroTime that the suspension of flights over the Red Sea was a “precautionary measure” until further notice.
“This decision follows a crew’s observation of a luminous object at high altitude in the Sudan area,” an Air France spokesperson said.
As a result of the incident Air France altered the itinerary of some flights while calling for several aircraft to return to their departure airport.
Flight AF934, which left Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) on November 3, 2024, shortly after 11:00 local time, for Antananarivo Ivato Airport (TNR) in Madagascar, was affected and diverted back to France around three hours into its flight.
“Flights AF934 Paris (CDG) – Antananarivo (TNR) and AF814 Paris (CDG) – Nairobi (NBO) have returned to Paris and are rescheduled as soon as possible. Return flights AF935 and AF815 have consequently also been postponed,” Air France said.
AF834 eventually departed for TNR in the evening and AF814 and AF4190 were rescheduled for November 4, 2024.
Although Air France could not confirm the nature of the “luminous object” tensions in the Middle East have led to a more cautious approach by airlines when flying in the region.
Houthi forces in Yemen have launched rockets attacks against commercial and naval vessels transiting the Red Sea over the last year and fired missiles against Israel in support of Palestine.
“Air France reminds that the safety of its customers and crews is its absolute imperative. The company is constantly monitoring developments in the geopolitical situation of the territories served and overflown by its aircraft, to ensure the highest level of flight safety and security,” the Air France spokesperson told AeroTime.
Following the incident, flights were seen diverting through Oman and Saudi Arabia, according to FlightRadar24.