Passenger plane struck by gunfire at Baghdad airport

BAGHDAD, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Gunfire struck a commercial aircraft as it landed at Baghdad's airport, prompting at least two airlines to suspend flights to Baghdad.

The incident Monday suggests Iraqi airports have become susceptible to attacks, with Islamic State militants' advances in gaining territory, especially around Baghdad, and more sophisticated weaponry.

The Boeing 737-800 of Flydubai, a budget airline based in the United Arab Emirates, was carrying 154 passengers when it arrived with "damage consistent with small-arms fire," the airline said. It added no one was injured, but airport officials said one passenger, a girl, was injured but not severely.

A security official at the airport said the plane was sprayed with gunfire, from an unknown source, as it touched down.

Although Flydubai downplayed the incident, two larger airlines headquartered in the United Arab Emirates announced flights to and from Baghdad would be suspended. Emirates and Etihad canceled their flights Tuesday, Etihad saying in a statement, "This took effect from January 26 until further notice. Our services to other points in Iraq, Erbil and Basra, continue to operate as scheduled."