Iran Shuts Airspace Following Joint US-Israel Strikes; Trackers Show Planes Rerouting

Iran closed its entire national airspace on February 28 2026 following a series of pre-emptive strikes launched by Israel and the United States on Iranian territory, forcing civilian aircraft to reroute or suspend flights as the region grappled with sharply escalating hostilities. Flight tracking data showed commercial aircraft abandoning Iranian flight corridors within minutes of the closure, reflecting the rapid impact on international air travel.

According to aviation trackers such as FlightRadar24, the closure occurred shortly after the aerial attacks began, leaving large swaths of Iranian skies nearly empty as aircraft adjusted their routes to avoid the conflict zone. Flights that would normally traverse Iranian airspace were quickly diverted to alternative paths over neighbouring countries, resulting in congestion along those corridors and flight delays for long-haul services.

The decision to shutter airspace came as multiple explosions were reported in Tehran and other locations, prompting the Civil Aviation Organisation of Iran to suspend all civilian traffic “until further notice.” The closure effectively grounded inbound and outbound flights across the country and prevented overflights, leaving airlines to reconfigure operations in real time for safety reasons.

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Regional disruptions extended beyond Iran. Both Israeli airspace and that of several neighbouring states were also closed or subject to restrictions amid swirling reports of military activity and security alerts. The coordinated strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces targeted military infrastructure in Iran, heightening concerns of broader instability and prompting precautionary measures from civil aviation authorities across West Asia.

Airlines and aviation agencies around the world responded by rerouting flights to avoid the affected airspace, with some services delayed or rescheduled to steer clear of the Persian Gulf and surrounding regions. The sudden change in air routes added hours to certain international flights and posed logistical challenges for carriers already adapting to the rapidly evolving security environment.

The closure marks a significant disruption to global air traffic patterns in response to the conflict, highlighting the immediate and practical effects of geopolitical escalation on civilian transport. With tensions still unfolding, airlines are expected to continue monitoring the situation closely, prioritising passenger and crew safety as airspace access remains uncertain.

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