US commercial jets urged to avoid eastern Ukraine airspace
Canada points finger at Russia for Ukraine crisis
Washington/Ottawa: The Federal Aviation Administration urged US-registered planes Thursday to avoid flying over eastern Ukraine, following the apparent shooting down of a Malaysian airliner over the rebel-held region.
The FAA issued the notice "due to recent events and the potential for continued hazardous activities," with restricted areas including the entire Simferopol and Dnepropetrovsk flight information regions.
The so-called Notice to Airman, or NOTAM, "prohibiting US flight operations until further notice" over the area, follows an April FAA ban on flights over the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Russia and adjacent zones of the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
"No scheduled US airlines are currently flying routes through this airspace," the FAA noted, adding that it would re-evaluate the notice by October 31.
US officials said the Malaysia Airlines jet, which was carrying 298 people, was hit by a surface-to-air missile but could not say who launched the attack and from where.
The flight took off from Schiphol airport in Amsterdam shortly after noon Thursday and was supposed to land in Kuala Lumpur at around 6:10 am Friday local time.
Canada points finger at Russia for Ukraine crisis
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper called Russian aggression "the root of the ongoing conflict" in Ukraine on Thursday, after an airliner crashed in the country's strife-torn eastern region.
The Malaysia Airlines jet was carrying 298 people, including one Canadian. All were presumed dead.
"While we do not yet know who is responsible for this attack, we continue to condemn Russia's military aggression and illegal occupation of Ukraine," Harper said in a statement, adding that it was "at the root of the ongoing conflict in the region."
US and Ukrainian officials said the Boeing 777 jet was shot down by a surface-to-air-missile but could not say who launched the attack and from where.
Harper said he was "shocked and saddened" by the disaster, noting the presence of the Canadian national on board.
Canada has offered its assistance to authorities in determining the circumstances surrounding the crash of Flight MH17.