India-Pakistan escalation grounds flights at 24 airports across border states

India's launch of Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and PoK after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, has heightened tensions, with defence analysts warning of a volatile situation and potential further escalations

The government has suspended civil flight operations at 24 airports across northern and western regions of India following a cross-border escalation involving drone and missile attacks launched by Pakistan. The unprecedented move, confirmed by the Civil Aviation Ministry, comes in the wake of heightened military tensions between the two countries.

The shutdown affects both civilian and dual-use airports located in high-security zones such as Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Gujarat. Airports in cities like Chandigarh, Srinagar, Amritsar, Leh, Jaisalmer, and Bhuj have been closed to civilian air traffic, with flights grounded or redirected as a precautionary measure.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that Indian air defence systems had intercepted multiple aerial threats believed to have originated from Pakistani territory. The attempted strikes, which targeted sensitive zones in Jammu, Punjab, and Rajasthan, were met with countermeasures, including blackouts and the sounding of air raid sirens in several border towns. The attack also led to the suspension of an ongoing IPL match in Dharamshala.

This flare-up follows India's launch of Operation Sindoor, a military offensive targeting terror camps across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in response to the April 22 terror strike in Pahalgam. Defence analysts warn that the situation remains volatile, with the possibility of further escalations.

Airports affected by the suspension include:

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

Major carriers including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air issued advisories warning of continued disruptions through the weekend. IndiGo alone reported the cancellation of 165 flights on Wednesday, while Air India redirected multiple international flights from Amritsar to Delhi due to the sudden airport closure.

Passengers were advised to arrive at operational airports at least three hours before departure due to enhanced security checks. “These are extraordinary circumstances requiring increased vigilance. We ask passengers for patience and cooperation,” IndiGo said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).