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A Virgin Australia pilot was the first to alert Australian authorities about a live-fire drill conducted by Chinese naval ships in the Tasman Sea last week, leading to 49 commercial flights altering their paths, according to Australia’s air traffic control chief.
Airlines including Qantas, Emirates, Air New Zealand, and Virgin Australia modified flight routes on Friday after China issued a warning about the rare military exercise in international waters between Australia and New Zealand. Both countries have since expressed concerns, stating they were not given adequate notice by the Chinese navy about the drill, which took place off Australia’s New South Wales coast.
Pilots are usually informed of potential airspace hazards like military drills through Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), which are typically issued at least 24 hours in advance. However, Rob Sharp, CEO of Airservices Australia, revealed in a parliamentary hearing on Monday that his agency only learned of the drill when a Virgin Australia pilot picked up a warning message from the Chinese navy.
According to Peter Curran, Sharp’s deputy, the message was broadcast on an emergency radio channel primarily monitored by pilots and was then relayed to air traffic control, prompting an immediate warning to commercial airlines and the establishment of an exclusion zone. He added that the live-fire exercise may have started about 30 minutes before the pilot heard the message, and Australia’s defence operations command was informed 10 minutes after air traffic control received it.
In contrast, Curran noted that French defence forces, which conduct drills near their Pacific territories, typically notify Australian air traffic control 24 to 48 hours in advance.
The Chinese navy’s activities involved a frigate, a cruiser, and a replenishment vessel, which entered Australia’s maritime approaches and moved along its east coast last week. In response to concerns raised by Australia and New Zealand, China’s defence ministry insisted it had issued repeated safety notices in advance and that its actions complied with international law without posing a threat to aviation safety.
When asked about the incident, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refrained from commenting on whether it was concerning that a commercial pilot had to report the Chinese navy’s warning. Instead, he reassured reporters that Australia’s defence forces were monitoring the situation.
“Australian defence were certainly aware, and I’ve spoken with the chief of the defence force about what has occurred,” Albanese stated. “Australia has had frigates both monitoring by sea and by air the presence of these Chinese vessels in the region.”
As of Tuesday, New Zealand’s military confirmed that the Chinese naval task force was positioned 218 nautical miles east of Hobart, Tasmania’s state capital. Meanwhile, Australia’s defence department and the defence minister’s office have yet to issue further comments.
Melissa Enoch
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