US Governnment Suspends Airlines Flying From Turkey

Washington, United States : The US government said it has suspended all flights to Turkey, and banned all airlines from flying to the United States from Turkey due to uncertainty after an abortive coup attempt.

The Federal Aviation Administration's order, issued late Friday, comes as the US embassy in Ankara on Saturday instructed US government employees to avoid Istanbul's Ataturk airport due to reports of sporadic gunfire.

"All airlines prohibited by FAA from flying to US from #Turkey directly or w/stopover," the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs said on Twitter.

The US embassy in Ankara added that security "at Ataturk airport is significantly diminished and US government employees have been instructed not to attempt to travel to and from Ataturk airport."

In reference to the FAA note, the embassy said that US airline carriers "are prohibited from flying to or from Istanbul and Ankara airports.

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"All airline carriers, regardless of country of registry, are prohibited from flying into the United States from Turkey either directly or via third country," the embassy said.

It advised US citizens in Turkey "to seek shelter in safe places," avoid unnecessary travel, and monitor media reports.

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The warnings remain in place even though Turkish airports reopened following President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's pre-dawn announcement of victory over discontented army officers who mounted a bloody attempt to overthrow him.