US fines Virgin Atlantic one million dollars for flights over Iraq

The US Transportation Department has fined British airline Virgin Atlantic up to 1.05 million dollars for flying over restricted airspace in Iraq while operating flights in a partnership with Delta Air Lines (Ted S. Warren/AP/PA)

The US Transportation Department has fined British airline Virgin Atlantic up to 1.05 million dollars (£870,700) for flying over restricted airspace in Iraq while operating flights in a partnership with Delta Air Lines.

The federal agency said the flights occurred between September 2020 and September 2021 while the Federal Aviation Administration had told US airlines to avoid the area.