Overview

• Newly released cockpit and air-traffic control recordings detail how a Virgin Australia pilot first alerted controllers to the Chinese task group’s live firing in February.
• Controllers said only a 10-mile danger radius had been communicated and no firing altitude was provided, while an Emirates pilot reported fire up to about 15 kilometres.
• An Emirates jet was rerouted away from the ships, contributing to 49 commercial flights being diverted around the exercise area that day.
• The drills occurred in international waters between Australia and New Zealand, where no legal duty to notify applies, though officials say standard aviation practice expects 12–24 hours’ notice.
• Foreign and defence ministers say they have not received a satisfactory explanation, as China’s defence ministry rejects the criticism and asserts it issued repeated safety notices.