03:49
Tieng Anh Vui
The European Parliament has passed a bill to regulate pilots' working hours despite its rejection by their own transport committee.
The committee rejected it last week by 21 votes to 13 after safety concerns were raised by the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) and others.
The European Commission wants to standardise the varying time limits for flying across member states.
Only the EU Council of Ministers can now stop the bill becoming law.
Balpa argues the proposals could mean some aircrews fly for longer, with more risk of pilots falling asleep at the controls.
But the European Commission says Wednesday's vote means aviation safety has been improved.
EU officials insist these new rules will boost safety standards and ensure that all European airlines have the same maximum time limits for flying, the BBC's Duncan Crawford reports from Strasbourg.
But there has been a huge row over whether the proposals really will make flying safer, he says.
Balpa argues that loopholes in the proposals could result in British aircrews being on shift for longer, with pilots potentially being awake for 22 hours before needing to land an aircraft.
That claim has been dismissed as a distortion. An EU official said suggestions the rules weaken safety were "false and irresponsible".
EU member states, including the UK, have backed the plans, as has the Civil Aviation Authority.
British pilots have now called for the UK government to block the measures.
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