Malaysia Airlines to avoid Iranian airspace over safety concerns following missile attack

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 8): Malaysia Airlines Bhd is steering clear of the "conflict airspace of Iran" amidst flaring tensions between the US and the Middle East.

In an email response today, Malaysia Airlines clarified that it does not fly over the airspace of Iraq on its flights to and from London, Jeddah and Medina.

The airline added that it will be avoiding the Iranian airspace due to recent events and stressed that safety is of utmost importance.

"The airline performs active monitoring through its Flight Monitoring System and is guided by various assessments including global security reports and NOTAMs by respective airspace control authorities.

"All our aircraft are equipped with Satellite Communication (SATCOM) for immediate communication with the aircraft for any critical information and action such as a reroute," Malaysia Airlines said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah today advised Malaysians residing or currently travelling in the Middle East and Gulf region to be more vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure security and safety.

He also urged those who had yet to register themselves with the Malaysia diplomatic missions to do so with the nearest embassy or consulate general of Malaysia without delay.

Airlines are shunning the Iranian airspace after Iran launched a missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq in the early hours of Wednesday in retaliation to the US drone strike on an Iranian commander whose killing has raised fears of a wider war in the Middle East.

Tehran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles from Iranian territory against at least two Iraqi facilities hosting US-led coalition personnel at about 1.30am local time, the US military was quoted by Reuters as saying.

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