Largest Air France pilots union invokes insecurity in Mali to refuse flights – World

Air France’s largest pilots’ union called on its members to “exercise their right to withdraw” from flights to Bamako due to the insecurity situation in Mali.

For its part, the airline, which operates a daily connection between Paris and Bamako, said that “at this stage, the service to the capital of Mali remains unchanged”.

The union’s statement comes at a time when the US Air Oversight Agency (FAA) recently warned of an “increased risk” for commercial aviation flying to and over Mali “at all altitudes”.

“Mali is the scene of fighting, extremist activity, the deterioration of the rule of law, the growing foreign military presence, and the introduction of a sophisticated air defense system,” explained the FAA in a message that accompanied a “notice for air missions ” (Note) published on February 23.

In these documents, which were published this week by the French newspaper Les Echos, the FAA mentioned in particular the installation by the Russian mercenary group Wagner of SA-22 “Pantsir” batteries, capable of hitting a target 36 kilometers away at an altitude of 15 kilometers.

Commercial aircraft in cruise flight operate at an altitude of about 12 kilometers.