Airlines Cancel Flights to Baghdad After Commercial Aircraft Fired Upon by Suspected Militants

A number of airlines have cancelled flights to Baghdad after a commercial aircraft was fired at upon landing.

Several airlines are reconsidering their flights to Baghdad International Airport (BGW) after a FlyDubai Boeing 737-800 carrying 154 passengers was shot at upon landing. The Wall Street Journal reports the fuselage of FlyDubai Flight 215 was damaged when the aircraft was fired upon by suspected militants, sparking safety concerns throughout the aviation industry.

No injuries were reported, and the flight was able to successfully maneuver to the jet bridge, where all passengers deplaned. Security officials for the Iraqi government confirmed that several shots were fired south of the airport, but they do not have a motive or suspect in the shooting.

In a statement, FlyDubai said that preliminary information suggested the shots were unintentional and the flight was not deliberately targeted. The low-cost carrier has suspended all flights to BGW pending the results of an investigation.

FlyDubai joins a growing number of airlines that have suspended routes to the capital of Iraq indefinitely. Air Arabia, Etihad Airways, Emirates and Turkish Airlines have all ceased flights to Baghdad over growing security concerns.

In addition, several major international carriers, including Air France, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic all announced they would not fly over Iraq, in fear of another incident similar to Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. Orders issued by both European and U.S. authorities prohibit carriers who choose to fly over Iraq from doing so below 30,000 feet.

The International Civil Aviation Organization is currently scheduling a meeting addressing commercial aviation security in areas of conflict. Meanwhile, Iraqi Transport Minister Baqer Al Zubaidi reportedly claims that operations are running normally at BGW, stating that there are “no problems at all” and insisting that the country “will take tough measures against the attackers of the plane, whoever they are.”

[Photo: FlyDubai]