It's all about the waves: why planes actually avoid flying over Tibet (photos).

By examining the flight path map of airplanes traveling around the globe, several intriguing observations can be made. One of these is that aircraft do not actually fly directly to their destinations. Another interesting point is that most planes tend to avoid flying over certain regions—such as Tibet, as noted by IFLScience.

It is no secret that Tibet is filled with mountains and elevated plateaus, which may not seem like a significant issue for airplanes—after all, they can simply fly above the mountains. Nevertheless, the flight movement map indicates that people tend to avoid flying over this area. So, what is the reason behind this?

One of the dangers of flying over Tibet is that mountain ranges can lead to significant turbulence. According to Darren Ansell, head of the Space and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Central Lancashire, turbulence can be simply described as disturbances in the air, akin to the movement of waves and ocean currents. If an oncoming wave encounters no obstacles, it will flow smoothly; however, if it meets a sea wall, it will break, creating destructive waves.

When air flows around artificial structures and natural landscapes, such as mountains, the airflow gets disrupted, causing turbulence in the air above and around it. Therefore, if you are taking off or landing at an airport near a mountain range or hilly terrain, you are more likely to experience this type of turbulence during and shortly after takeoff.

Researchers note that flying over Tibet is not outright banned; however, the mountain ranges can indeed lead to a "bumpy ride." But that’s not all. Another concern lies in safety. Although airplanes typically fly much higher than the average altitude of 5,000 meters, in the event of a decompression, pilots would need to descend to 3,000 meters, where the air is breathable. However, flying at that altitude amidst mountain ranges can be incredibly hazardous.

For these reasons, along with the lack of places for emergency landings, planes that do not land at airports in this region generally avoid flying over Tibet.