The Cabinet of Ministers has approved new rules for the interception of civil aircraft

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved rules for the interception of civil aircraft. The military has been instructed not to use weapons against aircraft in flight, whilst air traffic controllers will, in certain circumstances, be able to require an aircraft to land at a specific airport.

The relevant decree was signed on 6 October 2026 by the Prime Minister, Adylbek Kasymaliev. This was reported in the newspaper ‘Erkin Too’.

According to the document, a landing may be ordered if an aircraft is flying over Kyrgyz territory without authorisation or is being used for illegal activities. Other grounds may include reports of hijacking, alerts regarding unlawful interference, or deviations from the flight plan in the absence of radio contact and failure to comply with air traffic controllers’ instructions.

When intercepting civil aircraft, the authorised defence authorities must refrain from using weapons and take measures to protect the lives of passengers and crew.

Furthermore, Kyrgyzstan’s airlines and aircraft captains are obliged to comply with the flight regulations of the host country. In the event of an interception abroad, they must follow the instructions of the competent authorities of the foreign state, including any requirement to land.

The decree will come into force 15 days after its official publication.