U.S. airline regulators are banning all flights between the U.S. and airports in Turkey as the country fought to overcome a military coup attempt that left at least 161 people dead and scores more wounded Saturday.
The Federal Aviation Administration ban includes commercial and private planes operating into or out of Turkey, as well as flights to the U.S. by non-U.S. carriers via third countries.
"The FAA is monitoring the situation in Turkey in coordination with our partners in the State Department and The Department of Homeland Security and will update the restrictions as the situation evolves," the agency said in statement.
The Federal Aviation Administration first issued a "notice to airmen" prohibiting flights to and from Turkey on Friday.
Turkish Airlines resumed normal operations Saturday at the airport in Istanbul, announcing in a statement that flights were arriving and departing on schedule.
Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy in Ankara issued a statement Saturday warning that U.S. government officials have been told not to use the airport in Istanbul and that U.S. citizens in the country should seek shelter. The embassy said it is still hearing reports of sporadic gunfire around the airport.
The Pentagon says U.S. warplanes have stopped flying missions against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq from a base in southern Turkey after the government closed its airspace to military aircraft.
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The U.S. has been flying Air Force A-10 attack planes from Incirlik base as part of its air campaign against the Islamic State.
The Pentagon's press secretary, Peter Cook, said Saturday that U.S. officials are working with Turkish officials to get permission to resume air operations as soon as possible following the attempted coup.
Cook says U.S. Central Command is adjusting flight operations in the anti-IS campaign to minimize the effect of the closure of Turkish airspace. Cook also says Incirlik lost commercial electrical power.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
