Flying over not so friendly Countries
Just out of curiosity......
Do our western airlines currently fly over "Axis of Evil" countries as a matter of normal flight planning? For example, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan etc. Or is it a matter of boxing around the airspace as a part of planning? And if they do, what of the need to divert, get down in a hurry? Are agreements in place.
Also, for you history buffs, did western airlines fly over the former USSR? I know of a Korean airliner shot down by the Russians somewhere on the East Coast of Russia, many years ago. But did airlines regularly fly over the USSR as a matter of routine?
It's just a curiosity as I was recently listening to JFK delivery online, and there was a problem with a Northwest Airlines flight having a Russian Airspace Penetration time problem. Is this sort of thing co-ordinated with these Axis of evil countries also?
Anyone with any info or websites with stories etc would be great.
Thanks.