Russian Missile Strikes In Syria Have Triggered A European Alert For All Airlines Flying Over Iraq, Iran, And The Caspian Sea

Wall Street Journal: Russian Missile Strikes in Syria Trigger European Alert to Airlines

Long-range missiles prompt safety bulletin to airlines flying in Iraq, Iran and over the Caspian Sea.

LONDON—Russia’s long-range missile strikes against targets in Syria have prompted aviation safety authorities to issue a safety alert to airlines flying in Iraq, Iran, and over the Caspian Sea amid growing concerns about the risk to commercial flying near conflict zones.

Russia this week said it fired cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea against Syrian targets—nearly 1,000 miles away—as Moscow steps up its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. and other Western countries have denounced the strikes. Russia denies U.S. assertions that some of the missiles fell short, landing in Iran.

The International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations’ air-safety arm, on Oct. 9 warned of “the possible existence of serious risks to the safety of international civil flights” flying in the wider airspace around Baghdad, Damascus and Tehran.

WNU Editor: I use to work for ICAO. They do not issue such warning unless they are really worried about a situation .... and it looks like the Middle East is becoming a big worry for them.