US bans flights from and to Turkey after failed coup

The agency also issued a notice banning U.S. commercial and private aircraft from flying to Turkey.

“The FAA is monitoring the situation in Turkey in coordination with our partners in the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security and will update the restrictions as the situation evolves,” it said in a statement, reported by Reuters. 

“All airline carriers, regardless of country of registry, are prohibited from flying into the United States from Turkey either directly or via third country,” noted the U.S. Embassy in Ankara in security warning on July 16. 

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines resumed flights from Istanbul’s international airport on July 16 following the failed coup attempt while some foreign carriers canceled weekend flights.

A spokesman for Turkish Airlines said flights had now returned to their normal schedule from Europe’s third largest hub, though delays were to be expected.

Turkish budget carrier Pegasus said its flights were also experiencing minor delays.

The closure of Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport late July 15 had caused the diversion of 35 airplanes and canceled 32 flights, Turkish Airlines chairman İlker Aycı told broadcaster CNN Turk, as quoted by Reuters.

Russia also suspended passenger flights to the country on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, TASS news agency said.

British Airways said in a statement it was halting all flights to Turkey on July 16 and one on July 17 as a precaution.

“The safety and security of our customers and crew are always our top priority and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so,” said the company, as quoted by Reuters. 

German airline Lufthansa canceled all its flights to Istanbul and Ankara on July 16 and pared back the number flights to holiday destinations Bodrum and Antalya.