British airlines warned of threat of Russian air missiles
UK airlines have been warned of the risk from long-range cruise missiles being fired from Russian warships in the Caspian Sea towards Syrian targets 1,000 miles away.
A safety bulletin issued by the EU aviation regulator warned the missiles cross busy air routes between Europe, the Gulf and Asia.
The bulletin was sent as Dutch safety investigators prepare to publish a report into the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which is believed to have been hit by surface to air missile as it flew from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur close to Ukraine.
The report, due out today, will look at why the plane was flying over a war zone.
Since Russia began firing at rebels in Syria last week, arlines have been warned of the fresh dangers to flights crossing the sea, Iran and Iraq.
Several carriers, including Air France, have begun altering their routes to avoid the area as a result.
British Airways has declined to say if it’s changing routes for flights in the region, but it issued a statement saying it ‘would never fly in airspace unless we were satisfied that it was safe to do so’.
The airline said it was in regular contact with the Government and security agencies to receive up-to-date safety information.
The safety bulletin from The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said: "Before reaching Syria, such missiles are necessarily crossing the airspace abovethe Caspian Sea, Iran and Iraq, below flight routes which are used by commercial transport airplanes."
BA said the bulletin was for information and did not contain any recommendations for airlines above those already in place for the region.
A spokesman said: "Our security teams are aware of that EASA bulletin and continue to liaise with the relevant parts of the UK Government."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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