US bans airlines flying over Syria
23 Aug shanghaidaily
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Monday banned
American airlines from flying over Syria, citing safety concerns posed
by the current conflict in the country.
The FAA has previously strongly advised US operators against flying
over Syria. The new rule requires them to contact the agency before
operating in the airspace."Due to the presence of anti-aircraft weapons
among the extremist groups and ongoing fighting in various locations
throughout Syria, there is a continuing significant potential threat to
civil aviation operating in Syrian airspace," the FAA said in a
statement.
The agency said it is prudent to prohibit US carriers from flying
into, out of, and over Syria, based on an "updated assessment of the
risk" and the "lack of any requests from operators wishing to fly in
this airspace".
Armed extremist groups in Syria are known to be equipped with a
variety of anti-aircraft weapons which could threaten civilian aircraft,
said the statement, adding that the opposition groups had successfully
shot down Syrian military aircraft using these weapon systems during the
course of the conflict.
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