Communications with parties whose native languages are not well known are sometimes better accomplished through a third party language, or lingua franca. The use of a language not the primary language of either party communicating can alleviate translation difficulties.
English is a useful language for communication in, on this particular planet, for a variety of reasons, including it's widespread use and standardized constructions. It is the international language used to communicate for air travel, here.
See: English Is The International Standard Language For Air Travel