International Airlines Reroute Flights to Avoid Iraqi Airspace

In the wake of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 tragedy, airlines are reconsidering flights over conflict zones.

European airlines and a Dubai-based carrier are rerouting flights over Iraqi airspace as a security precaution, amid fears that militants with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have weapons capable of shooting down planes, despite Iraq saying its skies are safe.

See also: Malaysia Airlines Plane 'Blown Out of the Sky'

A number of European carriers, including Virgin Atlantic, KLM and Air France, said they have devised alternate flight plans for their planes. Air France specifically said it detected a "potential threat" on July 24, which triggered the airline's decision, according to Eric Prevot, a spokesperson for Air France's Flight Operations Center. Read more...

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