India shuts 24 airports amid war fears

Escalating Indo-Pak Tensions Lead to Airport Closures Across India

The Civil Aviation Ministry has announced the closure of 24 airports to civil flight operations, following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. This development comes on the heels of a Pakistani drone and missile attack targeting regions in Jammu, Punjab, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. The airports affected include Chandigarh, Srinagar, Jaisalmer, Shimla, and others, significantly disrupting air travel across the country.

Full list of the airports temporarily closed:

- Chandigarh
- Srinagar
- Amritsar
- Ludhiana
- Bhuntar
- Kishengarh
- Patiala
- Shimla
- Kangra-Gaggal
- Bathinda
- Jaisalmer
- Jodhpur
- Bikaner
- Halwara
- Pathankot
- Jammu
- Leh
- Mundra
- Jamnagar
- Hirasa (Rajkot)
- Porbandar
- Keshod
- Kandla
- Bhuj

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the attempted incursion was of Pakistani origin, prompting a swift response from Indian air defence systems, which successfully intercepted the threat. The incident led to blackouts, triggered air raid sirens in several cities, and even caused the suspension of an IPL match in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.

The escalation follows India's recent launch of ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a strategic military strike targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This was a direct response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

Airlines have issued advisories to passengers, stating that flights from the affected airports will remain suspended until Saturday. Passengers are advised to reach operational airports well in advance to accommodate enhanced security measures. IndiGo, for instance, has urged travelers on platform X to allow additional time for their journeys.

In a series of flight cancellations, IndiGo has grounded 165 flights, with Air India and Air India Express reporting a comparable number of disruptions. Two international Air India flights, originally destined for Amritsar, were rerouted to New Delhi amid the sudden airport closure.

As tensions persist, the aviation sector braces for continued disruptions, urging passengers for patience and understanding during this challenging period.