Australia, NZ Planes Flew Near Chinese Live Fire Drill for 30 Minutes Before Officials Alerted

Airservices Australia revealed 49 planes were forced to re-route after Chinese naval ships began a live fire exercise in the Tasman Sea.

Chinese People's Liberation Army-Navy Jiangkai-class frigate, Hengyang, sailing within Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone, provided on Feb. 11, 2025. Courtesy of the Australian Department of Defence

Planes were flying near the Chinese Communist Party’s live firing exercise in the Tasman Sea for around half an hour before pilots were alerted about the potential danger, it has been revealed.

Airservices Australia—the government agency responsible for managing air traffic in 11 percent of the world’s airspace—only found out about a live fire exercise by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy flotilla in the Tasman Sea after being notified by a Virgin Airlines pilot.