All airlines told to take precautions over Syria

Airlines operating flights close to Syria have been warned to take precautionary measures after yesterday morning’s air strikes.

The day before, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority said it was monitoring developments and their impact on airports in Syria or neighbouring countries, which UAE airlines service.

‘’The GCAA is in close co-ordination with the concerned authorities in the state and the national carriers, in dealing with the current situation at the moment and in accordance with the changes taking place,” said Saif Al Suwaidi, the director general of the authority.

‘’The Authority will take appropriate

The US issued a warning about the risk to civil aircraft within 200 nautical miles of the Damascus region

action in the event there is any threat against the safety and security of civil aviation.’’

Mr Al Suwaidi said that a circular had already been issued to carriers.

The United States aviation authorities issued a warning on Friday about the risk to civil aircraft operating within 200 nautical miles of the Damascus region.

It said risks included GPS interference, communications jamming and “possible errant long-range surface-toair missiles” from Syrian territory, the notice said.

It followed concerns after air strikes in February when Syrian surface-to-air missiles landed in Lebanon and Jordan.