PHNOM PENH, July 26 — Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) has prohibited all flights from flying across fighting zones with Thailand.
Xinhua reported that Sinn Chanserey Vutha, who is also the SSCA’s secretary of state, as saying that all airlines had been informed to avoid flying over conflict zones and the scope of prohibition had been expanded to Poipet City, Pailin province, and part of Siem Reap province.
“All flights have been instructed to avoid flying over these airspaces, and the planes must not fly lower than 1,200 metres above sea level,” he said in an audio message released to the press.
Vutha added that the measures were to ensure flight operations and the safety of the planes and passengers.
As of 10am local time today, international flights from Phnom Penh to Bangkok and Siem Reap to Bangkok are operating as usual, as planes altered their routes to avoid prohibited airspaces.
Speaking at a press briefing, Cambodian Defence Ministry’s Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Lieutenant General Maly Socheata said that armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers in border areas broke out on Thursday (July 23) in the Cambodian provinces of Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear, and spread to Pursat province this morning.
