Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was in unrestricted airspace: IATA

A global airline industry group said on Thursday that Malaysia airlines flight MH17, downed over Ukraine, appeared to have been flying through ordinary and open airspace when it crashed.

A global airline industry group said on Thursday that Malaysia airlines flight MH17, downed over Ukraine, appeared to have been flying through ordinary and open airspace when it crashed.

"Based on the information currently available, it is believed that the airspace that the aircraft was traversing was not subject to restrictions," the Geneva-based International Air Transport Association said in a statement.