Air operators around the world last
night imposed a no fly-zone over Ukraine as questions grew over why passenger
jets were still flying over the war zone three months after pilots were warned
to avoid it.
Flights were urgently re-routed
around the region potentially putting hours onto scheduled journeys and causing
delays.
However, aviation safety authorities
in the United States and Europe warned pilots in April about potential risks
flying in or near Ukraine airspace.
The U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration issued a "special notice" regarding Ukrainian airspace
advising airlines to "exercise extreme caution due to the continuing
potential for instability."
International aviation agencies in
April also had warned pilots and airlines to avoid the Ukrainian airspace.