[manfromearth]

They were avoiding the Tibetian plateau not China. The plateau is about 4000 m above sea level, 2,500,000 sq kms and does not have many airports. This makes it very risky for civilian aircrafts and almost everyone avoids it. Additionally, if you are starting from New Delhi, you have to fly over the Himalayas which is even riskier.

[zirgs]

If you fly to Japan from Finland then you have to fly over the North Pole, because the Russian airspace is closed. Seems to be a lot more dangerous than the Himalayas.