Air France and Russia suspends flights over Iraq and Iran airspace

France’s airline Air France and Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency known as Rosaviation, have announced the suspension of flights over Iraq and Iran’s airspace. 

In a statement released by Air France on Wednesday January 8, the French airline said the suspension became necessary to ensure flight safety. 

The statement read in parts; 

“Flight plans are adjusted in real time according to the decisions of the French and regional authorities, throughout the world, in order to ensure the highest level of flight safety.”

Rosaviation on the other hand recommended suspension of the Russia’s airlines’ flights over Iran, Iraq, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It also cited “safety risks”.

The agency said; 

“In connection with information about safety risks to international civil air traffic, Rosaviation recommends not to use the airspace over the territories of Iran, Iraq, the Persian and Gulf of Oman for flights of civil aircraft of the Russian Federation, including transit flights, until further notice.”

This is coming amid speculation of a Ukrainian International Airlines plane which crashed in the early hours of today, being shot dead.