CAAP: Several navigation routes closed due to China rocket launch

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM B3736/22) for aerospace flight activities effective 30 December 2022 at 12 p.m. until 2 January 2023 at 6 p.m., advising the closure of several area navigation routes in light of possible debris drops from China's Long March 3B rocket launch.

The launch was initiated Thursday afternoon (29 December 2022) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Xichang, Sichuan Province, China.

The drop zone location is situated close to Recto Bank (West Philippine Sea), about 137 kilometers from Ayungin Shoal, and 200 kilometers from Quezon, Palawan, according to the advisory of the Philippine Space Agency.

Though the debris from the rocket launch will unlikely fall on inhabited land, it may still pose danger to all aircraft and seacraft.