Philippine Airlines: Flight routes to Europe ‘nowhere near no-fly areas’

In light of the Malaysia Airlines crash in Ukraine, Philippine Airlines assured its passengers that its flights to and from Europe take safe routes.

"We comply with all safety advisories covering allowed flight routes, areas of restriction or conflict areas, and all other related matters governing flight paths," PAL said in a statement on Friday.

PAL said their Manila-London-Manila route "is nowhere near the no-fly zone areas."

The airline also extended its condolences to the families of the victims.

"(We) join the rest of the world in praying for those who were lost, as well as their loved ones," the airline said.

Eurocontrol, or the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, said that MH17 was flying well above a closed section of Ukranian airspace when it was shot down.

"This route had been closed by the Ukrainian authorities from ground to flight level 320 (approximately 32,000 feet) but was open at the level at which the aircraft was flying," Eurocontrol said.

A Filipino family was among the 298 passengers who died in the crash.

After notifying the families of the three fatalities, the DFA identified the Filipino victims as Irene Gunawan, 54; Sherryl Shania Gunawan, 20; and Darryl Dwight Gunawan, 15.

Other airlines, including Air France and Lufthansa, have announced they will avoid Ukrainian airspace after the incident.

Eurocontrol and the US Federal Aviation Authority have declared the Crimean peninsula a no-fly zone for their airlines since April. — Rie Takumi/JDS, GMA News