Lebanon's Middle East Airlines Complained by Pilot Union for Flying Amid War

(Central News Agency, Beirut, 3rd, Comprehensive Foreign Reports) The International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) has filed a complaint against Lebanon's Middle East Airlines (MEA), accusing the company of requiring crew members to fly near airstrike locations and punishing pilots for reporting safety incidents. Lebanon's civil aviation authority has launched a safety audit of MEA.

According to an exclusive report by Reuters, since the US, in coordination with Israel, bombed Iran in February of this year, many foreign airlines have avoided flying over most Middle Eastern airspace due to threats from missiles and drones. However, Middle East Airlines (MEA) has continued to operate amid the war and economic collapse, maintaining Lebanon's external connections.

MEA, headquartered in the Lebanese capital Beirut, is the national airline of Lebanon. It currently operates a fleet of about 20 aircraft, with routes covering the Middle East, Europe, and West Africa.

Since 2024, Israel has conducted multiple airstrikes near Lebanon's largest airport. Given past precedents of civilian aircraft being shot down in or near conflict zones, IFALPA has expressed concern.

Safety concerns have escalated as Israel expanded its attacks this year against the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah.

In a letter dated May 12 to the Central Bank of Lebanon, which holds a majority stake in MEA, IFALPA President Ron Hay wrote: "While some may consider it heroic to carry passengers in high-risk and conflict zones under war conditions, we consider it an unacceptable risk."

A pilot for MEA told Reuters that Lebanon's economic collapse since 2019 has led to significant cuts in basic salaries. Pilots' compensation is largely based on per-flight pay, providing a financial incentive to fly.

IFALPA also revealed that some pilots who voluntarily reported unintentional errors to improve aviation safety have faced penalties such as being sent for "training," during which they lose their per-flight pay.

Hay told Reuters by phone: "We know for a fact that pilots have spoken up and have been punished for it." MEA dismissed IFALPA's allegations as "baseless" and stated that training assignments comply with regulatory requirements and "should not be misinterpreted as disciplinary action or retaliation."

Due to safety concerns, the pilots' group contacted airlines within the SkyTeam Alliance to raise awareness of the issues. The alliance includes MEA, Air France, and Delta Air Lines.

Additionally, IFALPA expressed concern about MEA making payments to Lebanon's civil aviation authority staff responsible for aviation safety.

An internal MEA financial assistance spreadsheet from November of last year, reviewed by Reuters, showed that dozens of Lebanese civil aviation authority employees received payments from the airline, including three aviation safety workers.

MEA explained that its support did not affect the "independence, authority, or supervisory duties" of the Lebanese civil aviation authority, and that auditors and the authority's leadership did not receive compensation. (Translator: Gao Fenfen / Editor: Yang Zhaoyan) 1150603