Operation Sindoor: Pakistani airspace fully shut for all air traffic till Sunday noon amid escalation in India-Pakistan conflict
Amid a major escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan that saw the neighbouring countries launching multiple strikes at each other's military installations overnight and on Saturday morning, Pakistan has fully shut its airspace to all air traffic till at least 12 pm Pakistan time (12:30 pm IST) on Sunday, May 11, as per a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. With the airspace closure, the entire Pakistani airspace wears a deserted look, flight tracking data shows.
Islamabad had initially issued a NOTAM announcing the closure of its airspace to all aircraft from 3:15 am to 12 pm (Pakistan time) Saturday. It subsequently issued another NOTAM, saying that the airspace will remain shut till Sunday noon. Late Friday, India had announced temporary closure of 32 airports across northern and western India for civil aircraft operations till 5:29 am IST on May 15, according to a series of NOTAMs issued by India's aviation authorities.
Following India's precision strikes at nine locations in Pakistan as part of 'Operation Sindoor' in the wee hours on Wednesday, New Delhi had announced closure of around 25 airports—close to the India-Pakistan border or housed at key Indian Air Force bases—initially till Saturday 5:29 am in order to keep civilian air traffic away from potential harm. But with tensions escalating and Pakistan resorting to large-scale drone and missile attacks at Indian military installations in northern and western India, and India's proportionate military response to Pakistan, the temporary closure of airports extended, and a few more airports were added to the list.
However, Pakistan had so far not shut its airspace or airports to civil aircraft operations, even as it repeatedly mounted drone and missile attacks against India over the past few days. India on Friday and Saturday hit out at Pakistan for using civilian aircraft as 'shields' as it allowed them to operate close to the international border with India, even as both countries were engaged in a military conflict in the region.
But that changed overnight after India 'engaged with' Pakistan's military targets at six locations—Rafiki, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Juniya—using 'air-launched precision weapons' from Indian fighter aircraft. The Indian response followed Pakistan's 'escalatory' and 'provocative' actions in which it attempted air intrusions at multiple locations, which were thwarted by the Indian armed forces.
Most international airlines were already avoiding overflying the Pakistani airspace amid soaring tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad. Prior to the closure of the Pakistani airspace on Saturday, most of the commercial flight activity there was largely limited to domestic flights or some international flights to and from Pakistani airports.
Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
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