Update, 10:40 a.m., EDT: The FAA lifted all restrictions on flights to and from Turkey at 1:45 p.m., EDT, on July 18.
As Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tightens the reigns
in his government after an attempted military coup that resulted in almost 300
deaths, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's ban on U.S. airline carriers
flying to or from Istanbul and Ankara remains in place. The FAA also has
prohibited other carriers from flying from Turkey to the United States, whether
directly or via a third country. Both orders went into effect on Friday.
A Saturday message
from the U.S. Embassy in Ankara advises travelers in Turkey to seek shelter and
avoid unnecessary travel. The embassy's Crisis
in Turkey webpage, last updated on Friday, "encourages U.S. citizens
to use extreme caution in leaving your residence or hotel to conduct essential
errands or business. Due to the potential for rallies and the possibility of
clashes, the U.S. Embassy advises you to conduct such activities during
daylight hours."