UPDATE: Air traffic unaffected as Poland tracks possible Chinese rocket debris

Polish air navigation authorities say passenger flights remain fully safe as services continue to monitor the possible passage of debris from a Chinese rocket through the country’s airspace.

Poland’s aviation and security services, cooperating with the Polish Space Agency (POLSA), said commercial flights were unaffected while they monitored the highly unlikely risk of Chinese rocket debris re-entering the atmosphere over the country on 30 January 2026.

Photo courtesy of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA).

In a statement on Friday, Poland’s Air Navigation Services Agency said it was working closely with the Polish Space Agency under a dedicated agreement, adding that the situation was being continuously assessed and operational decisions taken as needed.

PAŻP współpracuje z @POLSA_GOV_PL na podstawie specjalnej umowy, także w zakresie przelotu fragmentu chińskiej rakiety przez polską przestrzeń powietrzną. Sytuacja jest stale monitorowana i na tej podstawie podejmujemy decyzje operacyjne. Ruch samolotow jest w pełni bezpieczny.

— PANSA (@PANSA_PL) January 30, 2026

Earlier, Poland’s Government Centre for Security (RCB) warned that a fragment of a Chinese rocket could enter Earth’s atmosphere as part of a natural deorbiting process, citing data from space agency analysts.

Because of the object’s estimated mass and unknown structure, officials said it might not completely burn up and small fragments could reach the ground.

Astronomy enthusiast Karol Wójcicki said updated forecasts suggest a slightly higher chance of the rocket passing over Polish territory, but stressed the risk remains extremely low - around 0.3%.

Read more on this topic:

• Polish agencies warn of possible Chinese rocket debris re-entry over northern Poland

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Source: PAP/PANSA