Australian aviation authorities first informed about Chinese live firing drill by Virgin pilot

<p>Airservices Australia notified Australian defence force about drills 10 minutes after initial contact with pilot, estimates hears</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/feb/25/australia-news-live-labor-election-campaign-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-cost-of-living-mobile-coverage-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></li><li>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></li></ul><p>Australian officials did not know Chinese warships were conducting live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea until a Virgin commercial pilot alerted aviation authorities half an hour after they had begun.</p><p>Officials from Airservices Australia, the agency responsible for aviation safety, told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday night that it was first informed of the live-fire drill at 9.58am on Friday morning, when a Virgin pilot was informed by the Chinese navy flotilla by radio.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/25/australia-china-navy-live-firing-drill-updates-airservices">Continue reading...</a>