Afghan airspace closure: ICAO forms contingency team to minimise potential risks to aviation

NEW DELHI: United Nation’s aviation arm, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), says it has formed a contingency team to deal with the Afghanistan situation.

“As a platform for cooperation among state regulators and other aviation stakeholders, ICAO has established a ‘contingency coordination team’ (CCT) to assist with operational coordination, principally to permit the avoidance of Afghanistan’s airspace and potential safety risks,” ICAO secretary-general’s communication officer, William Raillant-Clark, told TOI Tuesday.

All commercial airlines are now steering clear of Afghan airspace. United, the only airline apart from Air India with nonstops between India and the US, says its India routes are the only ones impacted by Afghan airspace closure.