Comment
MH17 tragedy forces overflight changes
November 1st 2015
There were no surprises in the findings of the Dutch Safety Board investigation into the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on July 18 last year. Read More » The investigators concluded the lives of 298 passengers and crew were lost because the aircraft was shot down by a Russian-made Buk ground-to-air-missile.
Details of the horrible act, graphically displayed in a digital reconstruction when the results of the investigation were released in last month, underscored the horrific nature of the crime.
Importantly, the investigation highlighted the shortcomings in air safety management for flights over conflict zones. Airspace above eastern Ukraine should not have been open to commercial aircraft in July last year. In the weeks prior to the incident, several military aircraft had been shot down by ground-to-air missiles, including at least two not far below the height MH17 and other airlines – 160 flights on the day of the crash - were operating.
We will probably never know if the decision to leave the airspace open was economic. Air service providers reap serious money from overflights. But caution and air safety should always prevail over other factors. It has been a wake-up call for all.
Ultimately, if airspace is open, airlines make the final decision on routing. Since MH17, carriers have been more circumspect about flying over conflict zones. But they need to be better informed by States involved in conflict. Airlines need to know what is happening on the ground that could effect the safe passage of their aircraft.
The situation since the destruction of MH17 has made a challenging task for Asia-Pacific carriers a lot harder. When flying from Asia to Europe, it is difficult to find many routes where there is no trouble on the ground. Afghanistan, Ukraine and the Middle East immediately come to mind, but there are others.
The International Air Transport Association said ICAO’s Conflict Zone Information Repository, where States can report conflict zone information, is a good start. Some countries are beginning to provide very useful information. More countries need to contribute to the registry.
In the meantime, another Dutch-led inquiry into MH17, criminal in nature, continues with participation from Malaysia, Australia, Ukraine and Belgium. Its report is not due for completion until next year.
Sadly, whatever its findings, it is highly unlikely the perpetrators of this crime will be brought to justice. Russia has vehemently denied any involvement in the destruction of MH17. It has even attacked the Dutch investigation for not being independent.
Yet Russia vetoed a United Nations resolution earlier this year to conduct exactly that, an independent international inquiry. MH17 was a civilian aircraft carrying civilian passengers and crew. Russia must accept its responsibility for a terrible tragedy.
