The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) alerted all airmen on Friday, Dec. 30, against possible debris hit from a rocket that was launched by China.
The CAAP issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM B3736/22) effective 12 p.m. of Dec. 30 to 6 p.m. of Jan. 2, 2023 as China launched its Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Xichang, Sichuan Province on Dec. 29.
The CAAP said aerospace flight activities might be affected by possible falling debris from the rocket as it advised the closure of several area navigation routes near the expected drop zone.
According to the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA),the drop zone area is located within the vicinity of Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea, or approximately 137 kilometers from Ayungin Shoal and 200 kilometers from Quezon, Palawan.
“Though the debris from the rocket launch will unlikely fall on inhabited land, it may still pose danger to aircraft and seacraft,” the CAAP said.