Russia has blocked the airspace over Crimea and parts of the Black Sea through Saturday,

Interfax has reported from Moscow, citing an official NOTAM, or international ‘notice to airmen.’ NOTAM said yesterday, “The area has been declared temporarily dangerous for aircraft flights.” Russia is conducting aviation drills with Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft, and has closed the airspace up to 19,000 meters, or 62,000 feet. For comparison, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was flying at 33,000 feet on July 17, 2014, when it was shot down by a Buk surface to air missile fired from Russia-controlled Donbas. Since then, flights from Ukraine fly well away from Crimea when crossing the Black Sea to fly to Turkey, the Emirates and other Southern and Eastern destinations.