Dubai: Emirates and flydubai have stopped flying over the Sinai in Egypt following the Russian plane accident over the weekend.
Sharjah-based Air Arabia has also said it is no longer flying over the area “as a precautionary measure and until further information is available.”
A Russian passenger airplane crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Saturday, killing all 224 people onboard. The circumstances of the crash are unclear but a Daesh affiliate has claimed responsibility, saying it had shot down the airplane operated by Russian airline Metrojet. Russia’s Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov has reportedly said the claim “can’t be considered accurate”.
An Emirates spokesperson told Gulf News the airline “is currently avoiding flying over the Sinai peninsula until more information is available.”
Emirates flies twice daily to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, and flies over the Sinai on other routes in the Middle East and North Africa.
The airline said it is “closely monitoring the situation.”
“The safety of our crew and passengers are our top priority,” the spokesperson said by email.
A flydubai spokesperson said the airline has “rerouted” flights “around the Sinai Peninsula.”
European airlines Air France and Lufthansa have also reportedly stop flying over the Sinai.
There were 224 people onboard the Russian passenger jet, including 17 children, which was flying from Sharm Al Shaikh in Egypt to St Petersburg. The plane crashed 23 minutes into its flight.
