Why the *%&! are passenger planes flying over war zones?

[peoli]

[sharp_stick]

1. That would one of my questions

The FAA, IIRC, has banned flights over that part of the world. My first guess is that Malaysia Airlines is trying to save some dough on fuel.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. $$$$

Airlines will use flight plans that will save them the most fuel, money.

[peoli]

4. I hope I never fly on a plane that fly's over a war zone in order to save gas money.

[former9thward]

5. You are free to request a flight path before you buy a ticket.

They are not secret.

[peoli]

6. Good to know.

[Boom Sound 416]

3. CNN reports they diverted due to weather

[MohRokTah]

7. Bad Weather.

The normal route would have taken them much further south over Crimea, which has been relatively calm of late, but severe weather forced them further North right over this area.

This is what CNN reported earlier today for why they were flying over that specific region of Ukraine, and they backed it up with weather maps and radar. There really was very severe storms in the region of the normal flight path.