Air India Diverts Delhi-Tel Aviv Flight to Mumbai Amid Israel Airspace Shutdown
Air India diverted flight AI139 from Delhi to Tel Aviv to Mumbai due to Israeli airspace closure for passenger and crew safety.
An Air India flight from New Delhi to Tel Aviv (AI139) was diverted to Mumbai, India on 28 February 2026 after Israeli authorities closed their airspace amid escalating military action in the region following strikes on Iran. The closure of airspace over Israel affected both passenger and cargo flight operations, prompting precautions by several international carriers.
The flight, which had departed from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport earlier in the day, was en route to Ben Gurion International Airport when Air India made the decision to abort the mission “in the interest of safety of passengers and crew.” A spokesperson for the airline said the aircraft subsequently turned back and landed in Mumbai instead of continuing to Tel Aviv.
In an official statement, Air India acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the diversion but emphasised that passenger and crew safety remained its top priority. The airline added that it will continue to assess the evolving security situation and proactively adjust its flight operations as needed.
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The diversion comes as part of broader disruptions to aviation routes in the Middle East triggered by airspace closures following military escalation after Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes on Iranian targets earlier in the day. Flight tracking data posted by aviation monitoring services showed that regional airspace closures have affected numerous airlines and long-haul routes beyond just the Delhi–Tel Aviv corridor.
Budget carrier IndiGo also confirmed that it was closely monitoring developments over Iran and adjacent airspaces, warning passengers to check their flight status before departure and stay informed as the situation evolves.
The incident underscores how sharply geopolitical tensions can disrupt international civil aviation, forcing carriers to reroute flights or return to their origin points when airspace safety cannot be assured. Air India’s decision reflects industry-wide caution as airlines balance operational continuity with the imperative of passenger security in volatile environments.
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