A China Southern Airlines A330 aircraft passed through the vicinity of North Korean ballistic missile test yesterday.
Media reports quoting a South Korean defence ministry spokesman indicate that the aircraft, carrying 220 passengers on the Tokyo Narita-Shenyang route, was at 32,800 feet when the incident occurred.
China Southern confirmed that an incident did occur, but was unable to provide further details.
Apparently the missile was launched at
It is not clear if the missile was still airborne when the aircraft passed through its trajectory, but defence experts believe there is a good chance the missile had fallen into the sea by the time the aircraft passed the trajectory.
The defence ministry spokesman said the missile could have hit the aircraft on the way down, but this comment must be considered in light of tensions on the North Korean peninsula.
One expert on Asian defence matters says the chances of the missile actually hitting the aircraft were extremely remote, at best. “It’s like a bullet hitting a bullet,” he said. He added, however, that a test such as this is “highly irresponsible.”
North Korea is notorious for ignoring international norms, but generally countries conducting rocket launches enforce a strict exclusion zone near a launch cite during the time of a launch.
Nonetheless, the incident could cause airlines to review their flight plans when in the vicinity of North Korea.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
