At least eight major airlines are cancelling or re-routing flights away from Iran after a US drone was shot down in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Reuters, the airlines altering flight paths are British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, FlyDubai, KLM, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa.
The BBC reported that Iran shot down the drone, saying it had violated Iranian airspace. The US denies this.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency order prohibiting US airlines flying over the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
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In statements given to the BBC, British Airways said it will adhere to the FAA guidance, avoiding Iranian airspace and that “its flights will continue to operate using alternative flight paths.”
Lufthansa, which operates services to Tehran also said it has stopped flying over parts of Iran.
Malaysia Airlines, which flies from London to Jeddah and Medina is avoiding airspace over the Strait of Hormuz.
Emirates also told the BBC it is avoiding “areas of possible conflict”.
It added: “We are carefully monitoring the ongoing developments and are in close contact with the relevant government authorities with regards to our flight operations and will make further operational changes if the need arises.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) show down the drone on Thursday, however the US military insists the drone was over international waters at the time and condemned the IRGC’s “unprovoked attack”.