Russia bars planes from using Syrian airspace

Moscow issues ban after a civilian aircaraft was reported to have come under threat in the war torn country’s airspace

30 April 2013, 8:10 pm

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Planes at Domodedovo Airport in Moscow. (photo credit: CC BY Andrey Belenko, Flickr)

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has banned its airlines from flying over Syria after a civilian plane was reported to have come under an unspecified threat in Syrian airspace.

The ban was announced Tuesday by the state air transport agency, Rosaviatsiya.

The previous day, the Transport Ministry said the crew of a Nordwind charter flight carrying 159 people from the Egyptian resort of Sharm-al-Sheikh to the Russian city of Kazan saw war activities on the ground that endangered the plane. The aircraft landed in Kazan safely.

Russian officials did not describe Monday’s threat, but Rosaviatsiya’s statement noted that some airlines “continued to operate in the airspace of the country in which hostilities are using missiles.”

Russia has steadfastly supported the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad as it battles an armed rebellion.