300 passenger planes were scheduled to fly over Ukraine on day MH17 was shot down... despite warnings to airlines about 'serious risks to safety'

Nearly 300 passenger planes were scheduled to fly over the Ukraine yesterday.

Some 290 commercial flights continued operating over the war zone, with just 10 fewer aircraft entering Ukrainian airspace than normal, according to European air traffic control centre Eurocontrol.

 

The flights were still operating in the conflict zone despite warnings from as far back as April from the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) about potential risks to commercial planes.

Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down yesterday over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board. The ICAO advised carriers to consider alternative routes after outlining ‘the possible existence of serious risks to the safety of international civil flights’.
 

In response to warnings, American flights had been banned from flying over Ukraine, but European and Asian carriers were still operating in the area.

 

 

On July 1, Ukraine increased the altitude that aircraft could fly at in the area to 26,000ft, then on July 14, the restriction was increased again to 32,000ft. Flight MH17 was flying at 33,000ft when it was shot down.

Defending the Malaysian Airlines decision to fly over eastern Ukraine, the country's prime minister Najib Razak said international air authorities had deemed the flight path secure.

 

 

Following the tragedy, airlines rushed to cancel flights entering Ukrainian airspace, with British Airways confirming it had axed its once-a-day Heathrow to Kiev flight. Emirates revealed it was forced to turn back a plane about to enter Ukrainian airspace following the incident.

 

 

However, various Asian airlines confirmed they had cancelled their routes over Ukraine months ago. South Korea's two main airlines, Korean Air and Asiana has re-routed flights, as had Australian carrier Qantas and Taiwan's China Airlines.

 

Singapore Airlines also said it had been using Ukrainian airspace but had 're-routed all flights' to alternative corridors away from the region