New Delhi [India]: In response to continued airspace violations and drone threats from Pakistan, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has extended the closure of 28 airports across India until 5:29 am on May 15, government officials confirmed on Friday.
This decision follows a high-level review meeting involving key stakeholders, including airlines and airport operators, after Pakistan attempted a large-scale drone incursion across India’s western borders.
Airlines Issue Advisories:
IndiGo Airlines confirmed the suspension of flights to and from the following cities:
Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Rajkot, Jodhpur, and Kishangarh.
“These precautionary measures have been instituted with your safety and security as our highest priority,” IndiGo said in a public statement.
Air India also released a travel advisory via its official X handle, stating:
“Following a notification from aviation authorities on continued closure of multiple airports in India, Air India flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Bhuj, Jamnagar, and Rajkot are being cancelled till 0529 hrs IST on 15 May, pending further updates.”
Passengers are eligible for a one-time rescheduling waiver or full refunds, according to the airline.
Security Escalation on Western Front:
The flight restrictions come amid a major escalation by Pakistan’s military, which launched 300 to 400 drones across 36 locations on the nights of May 7 and 8, targeting Indian military infrastructure.
At a press briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stated:
“The Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times across the entire western border. They also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. The aerial intrusions were designed to test India’s air defences and collect intelligence.”
She confirmed that many drones had been intercepted or neutralized using kinetic and non-kinetic methods, and early forensic analysis indicates that the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models.
Hamas-Style Rocket Attacks & Operation Sindoor:
Defence sources also revealed that Jammu was targeted using low-cost, Hamas-style rockets, mimicking the tactics used by Hamas during its operations against Israel.
This comes as a retaliatory response to India’s Operation Sindoor, which on May 8 struck nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in direct retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
In the lead-up to this, the Indian Army had shot down over 50 drones in a sweeping counter-drone operation and neutralised a Pakistani air defence system near Lahore.
Implications for Travel and Security:
The extension of airport closures and heightened military alertness indicate the seriousness of the current threat environment, especially across India’s northern and western sectors.
Passengers are advised to check with airlines before traveling and anticipate enhanced security at operational airports.