overfly

American  

[oh-ver-flahy] / ˌoʊ vərˈflaɪ /

verb (used with object)

overflew, overflown, overflying

1. to fly over (a specified area, territory, country, etc.).

   The plane lost its way and overflew foreign territory.

2. to fly farther than or beyond; overshoot.

3. to fly over or past instead of making a scheduled stop.

   to overfly Philadelphia because of bad weather.

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verb (used without object)

overflew, overflown, overflying

1. to fly over a particular territory, country, etc..

   The plane approached the border but never overflew.

overfly British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈflaɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to fly over (a territory) or past (a point)

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Etymology

Origin of overfly

First recorded in 1550–60; over- + fly ²

Example Sentences

As cool as it would be to land on the roof of your office like George Jetson, federal regulations forbid ultralights and experimental aircraft from overflying populated areas—cities, suburbs, highway corridors, etc.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The pilot departed from a private airstrip and overflew his property,” states the NTSB’s aviation investigation final report, which does not mention Bloomquist by name.

From Los Angeles Times

By launching these weapons from long range and far from Iran’s borders it would avoid the need for Israeli warplanes to overfly certain countries in the region like Jordan.

From BBC

A patrol aircraft overflew the vessel early Friday and established contact with the crew and ascertained that they were safe, the navy said.

From Seattle Times

Risch intends to “reroute aircraft taking off/landing from Boise Airport so that they would overfly neighborhoods in Meridian instead of flying over his property near the airport,” Coose wrote from his personal email account.

From Seattle Times