--- title: "KLM and Air France fined for flying low over Iraq" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/klm-and-air-france-fined-for-flying-low-over-iraq" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/klm-and-air-france-fined-for-flying-low-over-iraq" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/klm-and-air-france-fined-for-flying-low-over-iraq.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/klm-and-air-france-fined-for-flying-low-over-iraq" category: "Business & Economy" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-10-24T08:45:52.536Z" source_reported: "2026-10-24T08:25:21.000Z" updated: "2026-10-24T08:45:52.536Z" trust_score: 70 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 12 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-24T11:36:26.097Z" --- # KLM and Air France fined for flying low over Iraq *US Department of Transportation issues penalties for over 100 flights in restricted airspace.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 70 of 100, higher is better. Trust 70: includes named officials, specific fine amounts, and two independent outlets confirming the DOT penalty. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: explains safety relevance, quotes officials and airline, separates facts, provides figures and payment schedule. - Hype 12 of 100, lower is better. Hype 12: language is factual with no sensationalist framing. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - KLM was fined nearly €286,000 (about $320,000) by the U.S. Department of Transportation for flying too low over Iraq on over 100 occasions. - Air France received a $105,000 fine for the same violation. - The airlines operated through Iraqi airspace under codeshare agreements with American carrier Delta Air Lines. - KLM must pay the first $200,000 of its fine within 60 days, with the remainder waived if no further violations occur within a year. The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined KLM nearly €286,000, approximately $320,000, for flying at an altitude below permitted levels over Iraq on more than 100 occasions. KLM's sister airline, Air France, was also fined $105,000 for the same violation. The airlines operated through Iraqi airspace under codeshare agreements with the American carrier Delta Air Lines. U.S. authorities stated that the airlines endangered passenger safety, while KLM maintained the flights were emergency situations. KLM is required to pay the initial $200,000 of its fine within 60 days. The remaining $120,000 is contingent on the airline committing no further violations within a year. Air France must pay $65,000 of its $105,000 fine within 60 days, with similar waiver conditions applying. ## Disagreements The combined total of the fines for KLM and Air France was reported as $425,000 by Paddle Your Own Kanoo. The NL Times reported the KLM fine as nearly €286,000 (about $320,000) and the Air France fine as $105,000, which would total $425,000. ## What the coverage left out None of the centre-rated reports mentioned the specific penalty of approximately €2,860 per flight that KLM reportedly incurred. The reports also did not include whether KLM or Air France intended to contest the fines, although the NL Times stated that neither airline is said to intend to contest the fine. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 10% (1) - Centre: 20% (2) - Right: 70% (7) 13 of 23 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-24T11:36:26.097Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 20 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-24T13:45:06.494Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The centre-rated NL Times led with the U.S. Department of Transportation fining KLM nearly €286,000 for flying too low over Iraq. It reported that the fine was for over 100 occasions and that Air France also faced a fine. The report included a statement from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who said, “Under the Trump administration, compliance with our safety rules is not optional when operating under a U.S. code. We will not hesitate to hold accountable any airline that fails to adhere to the agency’s regulations. Passenger safety comes first, without exceptions.” The NL Times also noted that KLM asserted the incidents were emergency situations and that neither passengers nor crew were endangered. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 4 - high: 4 - unknown: 13 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [View from the Wing](https://viewfromthewing.com/u-s-fines-air-france-and-klm-425000-for-flights-over-iraq-they-say-pilots-were-just-following-orders) — U.S. Fines Air France And KLM $425,000 For Flights Over Iraq—They Say Pilots Were Just Following Orders - [Actualno.com](https://actualno.com/america/sasht-globiha-aviokompanija-s-320-000-dolara-za-poleti-nad-irak-news_2654099.html) — US Fines Airline $320,000 for Flying over Iraq - [tpo.nl](https://tpo.nl/2026/10/24/klm-boete-vluchten-irak-delta) — KLM Receives US Fine for Flights over Iraq - [Paddle Your Own Kanoo](https://paddleyourownkanoo.com/2026/10/24/the-department-of-transportation-has-slapped-two-more-foreign-airlines-with-big-fines-for-flying-in-banned-airspace) — The Department of Transportation Has Slapped Two More Foreign Airlines With Big Fines For Flying in Banned Airspace - [NL Times](https://nltimes.nl/2026/10/24/us-department-transportation-fines-klm-nearly-eu286000-flying-low-iraq) — U.S. Department of Transportation fines KLM nearly €286,000 for flying too low over Iraq - [24ora.com](https://24ora.com/pa-bula-riba-irak-klm-y-air-france-a-haya-boet-di-miles-di-dollar-foi-merca) — Pa Bulla Riba Iraq: KLM and Air France a Bebe Boet Di Thousand Di Dollar Fo’i Merca 24ora - Prome Den Noticia - [Free Malaysia Today News](https://freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/10/24/us-fines-air-france-klm-over-flights-in-prohibited-iraqi-airspace) — US fines Air France, KLM over flights in prohibited Iraqi airspace - [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-fines-air-france-klm-425-000-for-codeshare-violations/4099003) — US Fines Air France, KLM $425,000 for Codeshare Violations - [NOS](https://nos.nl/artikel/2636388-klm-krijgt-boete-van-amerikaanse-overheid-wegens-vliegen-boven-irak) — KLM Fined by US Government for Flying over Iraq - [NU](https://nu.nl/economie/6414211/klm-krijgt-amerikaanse-boete-van-320000-dollar-voor-vluchten-boven-irak.html) — KLM Receives US Fine of $320,000 for Flights over Iraq - [hathalyoum.net](https://hathalyoum.net/articles/4252159) — America Fined Air France and KLM for Flights in Iraq's Proscribed Airspace. - [rtl.nl](https://rtl.nl/nieuws/economie/artikel/5660720/klm-krijgt-fikse-boete-voor-vliegen-boven-irak) — KLM Ignores Iraq Flight Ban More than a Hundred Times and Receives a Fine - [Javanews.al](https://javanews.al/shba-gjobit-air-france-dhe-klm-per-fluturime-ne-hapesiren-ajrore-te-ndaluar-te-irakut) — SHBA Gjobit Air France Dhe KLM Për Fluturime Në Hapësirën Ajrore Të Ndaluar Të Iraqut - [BNR Nieuwsradio](https://bnr.nl/nieuws/nieuws-politiek/10614322/amerika-geeft-klm-boete-om-vliegen-boven-irak) — America Fines KLM for Flying over Iraq - [De Telegraaf](https://telegraaf.nl/financieel/amerikaanse-boete-voor-klm-om-vliegen-boven-irak/163542871.html) — US Fine for KLM for Flying over Iraq - [CNBC](https://cnbc.com/2026/10/23/us-fines-air-france-klm-over-flights-in-prohibited-iraqi-airspace.html) — U.S. fines Air France, KLM over flights in prohibited Iraqi airspace - [anlatilaninotesi.com.tr](https://anlatilaninotesi.com.tr/20261023/abdden-air-france-ve-klmye-irak-hava-sahasi-nedeniyle-425-bin-dolar-ceza-1109811195.html) — The US Fined Air France and KLM $425,000 for Using Iraqi Airspace. - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-fines-air-france-klm-over-flights-prohibited-iraqi-airspace-2026-10-23) — US fines Air France, KLM over flights in prohibited Iraqi airspace - [Reformatorisch Dagblad](https://rd.nl/a/amerikaanse-boete-voor-klm-om-vliegen-boven-irak) — US Fine for KLM for Flying over Iraq - [Nieuws.nl](https://nieuws.nl/economie/amerikaanse-boete-voor-klm-om-vliegen-boven-irak) — US Fine for KLM for Flying over Iraq - [dagelijksestandaard.nl](https://dagelijksestandaard.nl/nieuws/amerikaanse-boete-voor-klm-om-vliegen-boven-irak) — US Fine for KLM for Flying over Iraq - [welingelichtekringen.nl](https://welingelichtekringen.nl/economie/amerikaanse-boete-voor-klm-om-vliegen-boven-irak) — US Fine for KLM for Flying over Iraq - [www.dnevnik.bg](https://dnevnik.bg/burzi-novini/2026/10/23/4970689_sasht_globiha_airfrance_i_klm_za_prelitane_nad_irak/?ref=rss) — US Fines AirFrance and KLM for Flying over Iraq ## Questions **How much was KLM fined?** KLM was fined nearly €286,000, which is approximately $320,000, by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This fine was for flying too low over Iraq on more than 100 occasions. **What was the reason for the fines?** The fines were issued because KLM and Air France flew too low over Iraqi airspace on over 100 occasions, violating U.S. federal regulations. The airlines operated under codeshare agreements with Delta Air Lines, which meant U.S. rules applied. **What is the payment deadline for the fines?** KLM must pay the first $200,000 of its fine within 60 days. Air France must pay $65,000 of its $105,000 fine within the same 60-day period. The remaining amounts are subject to waiver conditions. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/klm-and-air-france-fined-for-flying-low-over-iraq. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "KLM and Air France fined for flying low over Iraq", https://mediabias.news/business/klm-and-air-france-fined-for-flying-low-over-iraq