Berlin – Germany Warns Airlines Not to Fly Over SE Sinai

Berlin – Germany’s transport ministry has warned the country’s airlines to avoid flying over both the northern and southeastern parts of the Sinai Peninsula following the crash of a Russian passenger plane.

A spokesman said Sunday that, because of Saturday’s plane crash in Sinai that killed 244 people, the ministry has issued “until further notice a broad warning … for using flight routes in the southeastern Sinai.”

The spokesman, who didn’t give his name in line with department policy, said his agency already had an existing flight warning for northern Sinai, where Egypt is fighting an Islamic insurgency.

German carrier Lufthansa, Air France and the Dubai-based Emirates have all announced they will no longer fly over the Sinai until the cause for the plane crash had been identified.