China's aviation authority strengthens safety measures after deadliest year since 2018

The Chinese aviation authority has ordered a comprehensive assessment of hazards in the industry to uncover hidden operational risks from flight routes to runways. This follows the deadliest global year for commercial aviation since 2018, in which 318 people worldwide lost their lives. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has already begun warning Chinese airlines of potential security threats and adjusting flight routes accordingly. "We are timely warning airlines about risks and adjusting flight routes to ensure safe operations," stated Shu Mingjiang, an official of the CAAC, at a press conference. Recent incidents, such as the crash landing of a Jeju Air jet after a bird strike and the emergency landing of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane following an accidental ground strike, have highlighted the relevance of these measures. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, many Western and Asian airlines, including Air China and China Southern Airlines, have started avoiding Russian airspace. Additionally, the CAAC has instructed airports to take preventive measures against bird strikes and conduct a comprehensive review of safety risks on runways. Airports must intensify efforts to drive birds away from airport facilities and identify hidden dangers to enhance safety. The CAAC had already launched a major safety initiative in 2022 after a China Eastern Airlines plane crashed, causing the deadliest aviation disaster on the Chinese mainland in 28 years. However, the final report on the cause of this accident is still pending.