Sweden: Flights to Iraq stopped

All Swedish air traffic to Iraq has been cancelled until further notice, the Swedish Civil Aviation Authority has announced.

The decision was taken on Friday afternoon, after it was revealed that a Swedish passenger aircraft had been shot at in north-eastern Iraq as it took off on Wednesday night.

"We have made this decision in order to protect the safety of both passengers and crew," said Eva Axne, head of air safety at the authority.

Two airlines, Viking Airlines and Nordic Airways, currently fly regularly between Sweden and Iraq.

Crew members on a Nordic Airways MD-83, carrying 130 passengers, reported seeing someone firing shots at the plane as it took off on Wednesday night.

Source: The Local (English)

No comments: