Possible Airstrikes Cause Airlines to Reroute

Due to possible air strikes that could take place against Syrian forces, several major airlines have started re-routing flights Wednesday to avoid hostile airspace.

According to Reuters, Europe’s air traffic control agency, Eurocontrol, informed airline executives that air-to-ground and cruise missiles could be used in an attack on Syria in the coming days, which could cause radio navigation equipment to malfunction or fail.

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With the United States and other allies considering an attack on Syria due to a suspected poison gas attack Saturday, Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines have started temporarily rerouting flights that travel directly over Syria.

Air France has also changed some flights paths following the warning, including planned journeys to Beirut and Tel Aviv. EasyJet officials announced it would also re-route flights from Tel Aviv.

“Due to the possible launch of air strikes into Syria with air-to-ground and/or cruise missiles within the next 72 hours, and the possibility of intermittent disruption of radio navigation equipment, due consideration needs to be taken when planning flight operations in the Eastern Mediterranean/Nicosia FIR area,” Eurocontrol said on its official website.

Aviation regulators in the United States, Britain, France, and Germany all issued warnings against entering Syrian airspace, and the only carriers that were still operating flights over the country were Syrian Air and Middle East Airlines. Those flights were also suspended Wednesday afternoon.

Other airlines such as Lufthansa, Ryanair, EgyptAir, Emirates, British Airways, Etihad Airways and Royal Jordanian said they were monitoring the situation closely.