Abu Dhabi: UAE-based airlines continued to suspend their flights to Baghdad after a flydubai aircraft was fired at upon landing at Baghdad’s airport on Monday.
A spokesperson at the Dubai-based flydubai told Gulf News the airline has cancelled daily flights to Baghdad until January 31.
Other airlines, including Etihad Airways, Emirates, and Air Arabia, said their flights to the Iraqi capital were also suspended until further notice, but did not specify a date.
The airlines are waiting for the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority to lift its ban on flights to Baghdad.
Regional airlines such as Qatar Airways, Bahrain’s Gulf Air, Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines, and Turkish Airlines also suspended flights to Baghdad.
Qatar Airways said in a statement that it will be reviewing the issue on a daily basis before recommencing any services.
“As a result of a recent aviation-related security incident in Baghdad, Qatar Airways has decided to temporarily suspend its services between Doha and Baghdad with immediate effect up to and including our flight on Thursday, February 5, 2015,” Qatar Airways said.
Airlines urged passengers to contact call centres for booking options.
On Monday, gun shots were fired at a flydubai passenger aircraft, and the airline confirmed no injuries were sustained. An investigation is currently underway to establish details behind the incident.
“After landing at Baghdad International Airport on January 26, 2015, damage to the aircraft fuselage consistent with small arms fire was discovered on flydubai flight FZ 215. All the passengers disembarked normally through the jet bridge. No medical attention was required at the airport,” flydubai said in a statement on Tuesday.
