War zone manoeuvres
Airlines across the world are examining their rules, and the risks, of flights over conflict areas
The ill-fated journey of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 across Ukraine is likely to result in a review of rules for jets flying over war zones, aviation insiders say.
Before the downing of the civilian aircraft on Thursday, thousands of jets had flown over eastern Ukraine without trouble. Yet two Ukrainian planes were shot down in the region just last week.
Chris Yates, a British aviation, security and counter-terrorism expert, said the International Civil Aviation Organisation would have to seriously consider whether flying over war zones was worth the risk.
"The [organisation], in concert with the other aviation authorities, will have to look with some degree of carefulness as to whether aircraft should be allowed to fly over war and conflict zones," Yates said.
Nearly 300 passengers and crew members, mostly from the Netherlands, died in the mid-air disaster on Thursday.
Malaysia Airlines insists it had relied heavily on guidance from international aviation authorities rather than using its own judgment in deciding the plane's flight plan.