IndiGo Flight to Delhi Escapes Iran Airspace Closure By Minutes
IndiGo Delhi-bound flight narrowly exits Iranian airspace minutes before sudden closure amid unrest.
A Delhi-bound IndiGo flight narrowly avoided disruption after exiting Iranian airspace just minutes before Tehran abruptly shut down its skies amid escalating unrest. The sudden closure caused widespread disruption to international flight operations, particularly affecting airlines operating on key East-West routes.
Flight-tracking data showed IndiGo flight 6E1808, departing from Tbilisi, Georgia, crossed Iranian airspace at approximately 2.35 am on Thursday. Iranian aviation authorities issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) around 3 am, making the IndiGo aircraft one of the last non-Iranian passenger flights to traverse the airspace before restrictions came into force.
Iran’s airspace remained closed for over four hours, according to pilot advisories, forcing international carriers to divert flights northward or southward around the country. While domestic Iranian flights resumed shortly after 7 am, the temporary shutdown had already triggered delays and cancellations across global aviation networks.
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The closure occurred amid widespread protests against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and rising tensions with the United States. Although no active hostilities were reported, aviation risk-monitoring platform SafeAirspace warned that the situation could indicate heightened military readiness, increasing risks for civil aviation due to possible air defence activity.
Indian carriers including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet were among the worst affected. Air India cancelled multiple early-morning long-haul flights to New York and Newark, while IndiGo’s Baku–Delhi flight was forced to return to Azerbaijan. Airlines confirmed that several services were rerouted, delayed, or cancelled in the interest of passenger safety.
International airlines such as Lufthansa were also impacted, with the carrier announcing temporary route adjustments and cancellations while avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace. Airlines reiterated that passenger and crew safety remains the top priority and advised travelers to check flight status updates as the situation continues to evolve.
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