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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/21/united-airlines-halts-some-flights-mumbai-to-avoid-iran-after-drone-attack
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| Trump gave 'initial approval' for Iran strikes in response to drone attack | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Donald Trump reportedly gave initial approval for the military to launch strikes on Iran in retaliation for Tehran shooting down a US drone, before pulling back at the last minute. | |
| Planes were in the air and ships were in position, but no missiles had been fired when word came to stand down, the New York Times quoted an unnamed official as saying. | |
| US military and diplomatic officials were expecting strikes on a handful of radar and missile sites after the president’s top national security officials and congressional leaders gathered at the White House on Thursday night, the paper said. | |
| It was not clear if strikes would go ahead at a later date. | |
| Trump earlier appeared keen to calm tensions, saying the US Global Hawk drone might have been brought down by a “loose and stupid” Iranian officer without authorisation from Tehran. | |
| “We didn’t have a man or woman in the drone. It would have made a big, big difference,” Trump said. Asked how the US would respond, he said: “You’ll find out.” | |
| The report came as the US Federal Aviation Administration banned all US airlines and aircraft from flying in Iranian airspace close to where the US drone was shot down due to “heightened military activities”, as tensions increase in the region. | |
| The FAA issued an emergency order saying all flight operations in the overwater area of the Tehran flight information region in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman were prohibited until further notice because military activities and political tensions “present an inadvertent risk to US civil aviation operations and potential for miscalculation or mis-identification”. | The FAA issued an emergency order saying all flight operations in the overwater area of the Tehran flight information region in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman were prohibited until further notice because military activities and political tensions “present an inadvertent risk to US civil aviation operations and potential for miscalculation or mis-identification”. |
| Trump suggests 'loose and stupid' Iranian officer attacked US drone | |
| The order applies to US aircraft only but since the MH17 disaster, all countries rely on risk advice from the US, UK, France and Germany. | The order applies to US aircraft only but since the MH17 disaster, all countries rely on risk advice from the US, UK, France and Germany. |
| Earlier, United Airlines suspended flights from New Jersey’s Newark airport to Mumbai until further notice after Iran shot down the American high-altitude US surveillance drone. | Earlier, United Airlines suspended flights from New Jersey’s Newark airport to Mumbai until further notice after Iran shot down the American high-altitude US surveillance drone. |
| The downing on Wednesday of the unarmed Global Hawk aircraft, which can fly at altitudes of up to 60,000ft, was the latest of a series of incidents that have raised tensions in the Gulf region, a critical artery for global oil supplies. Earlier, a total of six oil tankers were damaged in two separate attacks. | The downing on Wednesday of the unarmed Global Hawk aircraft, which can fly at altitudes of up to 60,000ft, was the latest of a series of incidents that have raised tensions in the Gulf region, a critical artery for global oil supplies. Earlier, a total of six oil tankers were damaged in two separate attacks. |
| Trump suggested the attack on the drone could have been carried out by a “loose and stupid” Iranian officer without authorisation from Tehran. | |
| United said on its website: “Given current events in Iran, we have conducted a thorough safety and security review of our India service through Iranian airspace and decided to suspend our service.” | United said on its website: “Given current events in Iran, we have conducted a thorough safety and security review of our India service through Iranian airspace and decided to suspend our service.” |
| The airline said it would rebook customers who planned to fly to Mumbai. | The airline said it would rebook customers who planned to fly to Mumbai. |
| United has another route to India, from Newark to Delhi, but this has also been suspended because Pakistan has closed some of its airspace. | United has another route to India, from Newark to Delhi, but this has also been suspended because Pakistan has closed some of its airspace. |
| Flight tracking data showed commercial aircraft flying close to the Global Hawk drone at the time it was shot down, said OPS Group, which provides safety guidance to air operators. | Flight tracking data showed commercial aircraft flying close to the Global Hawk drone at the time it was shot down, said OPS Group, which provides safety guidance to air operators. |
| “The threat of a civil aircraft shootdown in southern Iran is real,” it advised operators on Thursday. “Avoiding the Strait of Hormuz area is recommended – misidentification of aircraft is possible.” | “The threat of a civil aircraft shootdown in southern Iran is real,” it advised operators on Thursday. “Avoiding the Strait of Hormuz area is recommended – misidentification of aircraft is possible.” |
| Here is our high-res map of the Civil Air Traffic picture at 2335Z last night, showing the risk to aircraft operators in the region. #opsgroup #flightplanning #IranUSTension #StraitofHormuz #drone #missile #iran #GulfOfOman pic.twitter.com/FfhGhdsKvr | Here is our high-res map of the Civil Air Traffic picture at 2335Z last night, showing the risk to aircraft operators in the region. #opsgroup #flightplanning #IranUSTension #StraitofHormuz #drone #missile #iran #GulfOfOman pic.twitter.com/FfhGhdsKvr |
| Last month, US regulator the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advised airlines to exercise caution in flying over Iran and nearby areas, due to heightened military activities and increased political tension. | Last month, US regulator the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advised airlines to exercise caution in flying over Iran and nearby areas, due to heightened military activities and increased political tension. |
| It said: “Although Iran likely has no intention to target civil aircraft, the presence of multiple long-range, advanced anti-aircraft capable weapons in a tense environment poses a possible risk of miscalculation or misidentification, especially during periods of heightened political tension and rhetoric.” | It said: “Although Iran likely has no intention to target civil aircraft, the presence of multiple long-range, advanced anti-aircraft capable weapons in a tense environment poses a possible risk of miscalculation or misidentification, especially during periods of heightened political tension and rhetoric.” |
| In July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down by a missile over Ukraine, killing all 298 on board, prompting carriers to take more steps to uncover potential threats to their planes. | In July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down by a missile over Ukraine, killing all 298 on board, prompting carriers to take more steps to uncover potential threats to their planes. |
| Reuters contributed to this report | Reuters contributed to this report |
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| Middle East and North Africa | Middle East and North Africa |
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