Post by : Meena
Hassan
An IndiGo flight from Tbilisi to Delhi narrowly dodged Iranian airspace just before the Iranian government abruptly closed its skies amidst escalating unrest. This unexpected closure resulted in considerable disruption to international flight operations, compelling airlines to either reroute or cancel multiple flights.
Data from flight tracking revealed that IndiGo flight 6E1808, which took off from Tbilisi, crossed into Iranian airspace around 2:35 am on Thursday, just minutes before the airspace was closed at 3 am. This flight is reported to be the last non-Iranian passenger plane operating within Iranian airspace before authorities issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which stopped most flight movements. Only a select few international flights were granted permission to operate.
The airspace remained closed for more than four hours, according to guidance from Iran’s aviation authority. As a vital east-west travel corridor, this shutdown had immediate repercussions for airlines worldwide, leading many international flights to be rerouted either north or south to avoid Iranian airspace. By 7 am, some domestic flights were seen resuming as the airspace began to reopen.
Iran has previously restricted airspace during periods of conflict, including a 12-day war with Israel last June and recent military exchanges related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Although no direct military action has been confirmed currently, the closure raised alarms about security risks, possible missile launches, and the chance of misidentifying civilian aircraft.
Indian airlines faced significant disruptions as a result. Air India canceled early morning services including Delhi-New York JFK, Delhi-Newark, and Mumbai-JFK, along with their respective return flights. IndiGo's flight from Baku to Delhi was forced to turn back within an hour after its path crossed over Iran. SpiceJet also announced that they would be rerouting some flights to prioritize passenger safety.
Air India stated that they would reroute flights wherever feasible; however, cancellations were necessary when no safe alternatives existed. IndiGo and SpiceJet reaffirmed that ensuring the safety of passengers and crew was their utmost priority and encouraged travelers to verify their flight status online.
In addition, other international airlines, including Lufthansa, modified their operations by avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace until further notice and adjusting flights to Tel Aviv and Amman. This incident highlights the strategic significance of Iran's airspace and its capacity to influence global aviation during emergencies.
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