Official: Iran’s Air Space Open to Passing Flights

(FNA)- Iran declared readiness to open its airspace for the passing flights after Ukraine closed its airspace following the recent shooting down of a Malaysian plane in its sky.

Deputy Head of the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran Ebrahim Shoushtari voiced the country's readiness to admit and allow international flights to pass through the Iranian airspace.

"After a request by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Iran voiced its readiness to allow flights from Northern Europe to the Eastern parts of Asia to pass through its airspace as an alternate route," Shoushtari said. 

Deputy Head of Flight Standards of the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran Hamid Habibi has also voiced similar readiness.

Following Malaysian plane's crash in Ukraine and closure of the country's airspace, Habibi declared Iran's readiness to admit passing flights which intend to change their route and to use Iran's air space.

A Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing-777 with over 290 people on board crashed in Ukraine, close to the border with Russia, on Thursday.

Malaysia Airlines lost contact with the plane when it was flying over Ukrainian soil.

The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Anton Geraschenko confirmed the plane carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew members fell.

The passenger plane was expected to enter Russian airspace at 5:20 p.m. local time on Thursday, but never did.

Later reports said it had been shot down by missiles. Investigations are still underway into who has shot the passenger airliner.