Clarification from Malta Air Traffic Services regarding Israeli aircraft in Maltese airspace
MATS notes recent media reports referring to Israeli military aircraft in Maltese airspace in an irregular manner.
MATS clarifies that:
– At no time was there a violation of the sovereignty of Maltese territory by the entry of aircraft into Maltese airspace.
– It is important to distinguish between the FIR (Flight Information Region) and sovereign airspace. FIRs are established for air traffic control purposes and are not equivalent to a country’s sovereign airspace. It is normal and completely legal for military aircraft, even those of other countries, to pass through an FIR without seeking prior authorization. This is a fundamental legal distinction that should not be ignored.
In these circumstances, it is important to avoid unnecessary speculation while we ask that the facts be verified before alarming the public unnecessarily.
MATS will continue to implement established monitoring procedures in their entirety to ensure and protect the territorial security of our country.
Source: Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works
