Sweden cancels all air traffic with Iraq

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The Swedish Civil Aviation Authority announced Friday that all flights to and from Iraq have been canceled indefinitely.

The decision was made after gunfire was aimed at a Nordic Airways plane as it took off from an airfield in northeastern Iraq Wednesday, The Local reported.

"We have made this decision in order to protect the safety of both passengers and crew," Eva Axne, head of air safety at the CAA, said.

Two companies, Viking Airlines and Nordic Airways, have been providing regular air service between Sweden and Iraq.