Middle East Airlines Operates Amid Conflict in Lebanon

Since the onset of Israel’s military offensive against Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon’s national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), has continued its flight operations. The airport, situated along the coast where numerous Hezbollah activities occur, remains functional—a stark contrast to the 2006 war when Israeli strikes swiftly incapacitated the facility.

Captain Mohammed Aziz, an advisor to MEA Chairman Mohamed El-Hout, revealed that the airline had received assurances from Israeli authorities that both the airport and its aircraft would not be targeted, provided their operations remained strictly civilian. Daily assessments are conducted to ensure the safety and viability of these flights. “As long as you see us operating, it means our threat assessment indicates that we can continue flying,” Aziz stated, underscoring MEA’s commitment to passenger safety. “We would never jeopardize lives.”

Nonetheless, the sight of planes departing against the backdrop of smoke from nearby airstrikes has sparked concern among the public. Dramatic images circulating online, including some generated by artificial intelligence, have heightened tensions. Aziz clarified that the smoke often appears to be closer to the airport in news footage than it actually is. On Monday night, a strike occurred a mere 200 meters from a runway, but fortunately, no aircraft were in the vicinity at that time.

Despite the inherent risks, MEA has sustained a schedule of 32 to 40 flights daily, only slightly below the typical number for this time of year. Most flights departing from Beirut are fully booked, while the return flights are nearly empty as Lebanese citizens and foreign nationals, including embassy personnel, evacuate to nearby countries such as Turkey and Cyprus.

‘A Unique Situation’

Passengers have expressed a range of emotions regarding their decision to fly amidst the ongoing conflict. Business consultant Elie Obeid, for instance, was unaware of the airstrikes occurring during his flight’s landing and only learned of them upon arrival through messages on his phone. “I appreciate the fact that they are still flying, as it provides our only connection to the outside world at this moment,” he remarked. “However, it is undeniably risky. We should have been informed about the strikes, and perhaps the pilot could have requested to land in Cyprus temporarily until the situation calmed down.”

John Cox, a former airline pilot based in the United States who is now an aviation safety consultant, noted that when a potential threat arises, it ultimately falls to the captain to decide whether or not to proceed with the flight. He acknowledged that it is not uncommon for passengers to remain uninformed. “Informing them about a threat they cannot control doesn’t aid the situation and can increase anxiety. Therefore, I would be quite reluctant to do that,” he explained. However, he added, “I’m not sure that I would want to fly into an area of active conflict with passengers on board.”

Cox described the situation as “remarkably unusual,” highlighting that for a commercial airline to deem operating in an active war zone as an “acceptable level of risk” is quite rare. “In areas with ongoing military operations, there are numerous variables at play,” he stated. “Coordinating to ensure that airplanes are not in the same airspace at the same time becomes exceedingly complex.”

MEA collaborates closely with the Lebanese government and various security agencies to mitigate risks, which includes adjusting flight schedules and relocating part of its fleet outside Lebanon to minimize potential damage. Furthermore, the airline has adapted its operations to counter frequent GPS jamming employed by Israel to thwart missile and drone attacks, although this also disrupts civilian navigation systems. Other international airlines have suspended operations, citing the elevated risk and the challenges associated with assessing the situation for just a few flights.

Maintaining Connections

• Lebanese citizens evacuate the south in large numbers as Israeli strikes result in numerous casualties.
• Israeli airstrikes sever a crucial evacuation route between Lebanon and Syria.

For MEA, conducting these risk assessments is essential to preserving Lebanon’s only connection to the international community. “It is our duty, of course, to maintain this link between Lebanon and the outside world,” Aziz affirmed.