UAE airlines suspend flights to Baghdad after shooting

Dubai, Jan 27
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Dubai's Emirates Airline said Tuesday they would suspend flights to Baghdad until further notice after a shooting incident at the Iraqi capital's airport.

According to a report by United Arab Emirates (UAE) daily Emirates 24/7, the low-cost FlyDubai has not confirmed earlier reports by Iraqi media that three passengers were wounded in the incident.

The shooting at Baghdad airport targeted an aircraft of Emirates subsidiary FlyDubai Monday, lightly damaging the fuselage.

Xinhua news agency, citing a source at Baghdad airport, reported earlier Tuesday that the FlyDubai plane was hit by small arms fire while landing at Baghdad airport.

Traces of small arms fire impact could be seen on FlyDubai's Boeing 737 aircraft.

Dubai daily Gulf News reported that the plane was shot at while landing. Iraqi media said the shots were fired from a point close to the runway at Baghdad international airport.

Dubai's state-owned Emirates Airline has asked passengers who had previously booked flights from Dubai to Baghdad on its website to contact the airline, as flights had been suspended due to operational reasons.

In recent years, UAE airlines have suspended direct flights to Iraq several times due to violent incidents in the capital of Iraq.