Tuesday, January 27, 2015

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Flydubai Jet Hit by Gunfire as It Lands in Baghdad - New York Times





BAGHDAD — A commercial jet carrying 154 passengers from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, was struck by gunfire as it landed at Baghdad International Airport on Monday, adding to fears that Iraq’s airports are increasingly vulnerable to militant attacks.


At least one passenger, a girl, was lightly injured, according to airport officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the news media. A spokesman for the airline, Flydubai, however, denied that there were any injuries.


The airline said that damage “consistent with small-arms fire” was discovered on the fuselage of one of its 737-800s after it landed at 1:50 p.m. The airline, a budget carrier based in the United Arab Emirates, canceled flights to and from Baghdad on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a spokesman.



There have been growing worries for the safety of air traffic in Iraq, especially at Baghdad’s airport, the country’s primary transportation hub, as Islamic State militants have advanced in areas around the city and amid mounting evidence the militants possess sophisticated antiaircraft weapons.


But the danger has been from smaller weapons as well. In August, an Iraqi Airways captain told colleagues that his plane was struck by gunfire as it approached the airport in Baghdad but landed safely. Pilots at the time complained that airport officials were trying to play down the shooting, to avoid scaring airlines away from the country.


The director of Iraqi Airways denied that the shooting in August occurred, blaming rumormongering by the Islamic State for the report.


On Tuesday, several airlines appeared to take the threat more seriously. At least two other airlines from the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways and Emirates, said that they were suspending flights to Baghdad.


In a statement, Etihad, based in Abu Dhabi, said that it was complying with a ban by the United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority on flights to and from Baghdad for security reasons.


“The safety of our guests and employees is always our first priority,” the airline said. “We will continue to work closely with the authorities and monitor the security situation before recommencing scheduled services to Baghdad.”



Falih Hassan and Omar Al-Jawoshy contributed reporting.










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