Baghdad:
European and Dubai-based airlines have begun rerouting flights over Iraqi airspace as a security precaution, though Iraq says its skies are safe.
An Emirates Airline spokesperson in Dubai told The Associated Press on Monday it will divert planes that use Iraqi airspace. A number of European carriers, including Virgin Atlantic, KLM and Air France also say they will do the same.
This follows the crash of a Malaysia Airlines flight over rebel-held Ukraine.
Iraq is facing a security crisis after militants with the extremist Islamic State group captured large swaths of northern and western Iraq, including its second-largest city, Mosul.
The head of the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority, Nassir Bandar however, maintains Iraqi airspace is safe. He says, "There is no threat to airplanes passing over the Iraqi skies."