At least six rockets were fired at Baghdad International Airport (BGW) on Friday morning near sunrise. The attack has caused damage to, among other things, an Iraqi Airways Boeing 767 aircraft. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported.
All scheduled flights continue as normal
The attack with six Katyusha rockets hit close to the US airbase but has not yet been claimed by any particular organization. However, it is part of a series of assaults on the airport compound that the US is blaming on Iran-linked militia forces.
Officials at the Interior Ministry have confirmed to News 18 that the rockets hit the runways and parking areas of the airport. However, there is said to have been no disruption to air traffic. Security sources also said that “a civilian plane has been hit and damaged,” with this later being confirmed as an out of use Iraqi Airways Boeing 767 widebody.
“We confirm the missile attack that targeted Baghdad international airport at dawn on Friday. Following this, one of the aircraft was damaged and is currently grounded. We are informing travelers that our direct flights will continue regardless,” a spokesperson for Iraqi Airways told AA.com.
Out of use 767-300ER
The Boeing 767-300ER is one of two that has belonged to state-owned Iraqi Airways and the only one still officially remaining in the fleet. However, it has been parked at BGW since September 2018. As such, its absence will not precisely be immediately felt by Iraqi Airways passengers.
The aircraft is registered as YI-AQM and is 28.6 years old. Before arriving in Baghdad in June 2010, it flew for Gulf Air, having been delivered in 1993. It was first withdrawn from use in 2008.
Iraqi Airways, which is black-listed by the European Union, is currently in the process of renewing its fleet. The airline recently took delivery of its first out of five Airbus A220 from the manufacturer’s facilities in Mirabel, Canada. However, the carrier is spreading its graces and will also take 16 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and ten 787s.
When the 787 will arrive remains to be seen
The first of the Dreamliners was expected to arrive in February or March this year. Meanwhile, the actual delivery date will depend on whether or not Boeing manages to resolve the issues with its popular widebody, which have put deliveries on pause for the past year, causing losses of about $4 billion.
“We are progressing through a comprehensive effort to ensure every airplane in our production system conforms to our exacting specifications. This effort continues to impact our deliveries and our financial results — but we are fully confident it is the right thing to do,” the company’s CEO Dave Calhoun told employees in an internal memo sent out on Wednesday.
