Military exercises by the Chinese navy in international waters southeast of Australia on Friday forced commercial flights transiting the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand to divert.

Airlines have been contacted by Australia’s air traffic control agency warning them of reports of live fire off the country’s east coast where a Chinese navy task group has been operating, the agency and Australian officials said.

Regulator Airservices Australia issued a warning to commercial pilots about a potential hazard in the airspace between the two countries after three Chinese warships began military exercises off Australia’s east coast.