ICAO urges stronger protection for civilian aviation in conflict zones after Ukraine warning

The UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) reiterated its call on September 2 for member states to strengthen commitment to protecting civil aviation from risks arising from conflict zones, citing a growing global threat of weapons being used against civilian aircraft. ICAO highlighted dangers from long-range weapons, drones, radio interference with satellite navigation, and advanced air defense systems. It urged states to rapidly share threat intelligence, strengthen risk assessment mechanisms, and improve military-civilian coordination to prevent misidentification of civilian aircraft. The statement did not directly mention the Russia-Ukraine war. It follows Ukraine's official warning to ICAO about Russian airspace dangers and President Zelensky's claim that Russian skies are becoming "completely dangerous" for airlines, which Russian President Putin called a "bid for state terrorism."