Escalating flight safety concerns in Nicosia FIR following military violations

The Republic of Cyprus reported 825 unauthorized entries by Turkish military assets into the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR) during the first five months of 2026. These incidents involved F-16 fighter jets, Bayraktar and ANKA drones, and military helicopters. Unauthorized movements frequently occur without communication with the Nicosia Area Control Center (ACC), creating significant risks to civil aviation safety.

A critical near-miss occurred on August 19, 2026, involving a Turkish Air Force Airbus A400M (TUAF770) and a TUI Airways Boeing 737-800. The military aircraft entered the FIR without establishing contact and deviated from its filed flight plan, forcing air traffic controllers to intervene to prevent a collision.

Following this incident, the European Air Traffic Controllers Unions Coordination (ATCEUC) and the Cyprus Air Traffic Controllers Association (CYATCU) have issued urgent calls for international intervention. They noted that 14 years have passed since the European Commission declared the safety situation in the Nicosia FIR unacceptable, yet no effective technical solutions have been implemented. The organizations are now demanding high-level European action to address the persistent, non-viable safety risks posed by ongoing military activity in shared airspace.