Australia learned about Chinese live-fire naval drills off the country’s coast that forced dozens of flights to be diverted via an alert from a commercial pilot, authorities said on Monday.

Chinese naval drills in international waters between Australia and New Zealand caused dozens of flight diversions.

China's navy has again entered Australia's exclusive economic zone, as government officials faced questions about why aviation officials found out about Beijing's live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea after being alerted by a Virgin pilot.