Israel-US strikes on Iran force airspace shutdown; Air India, IndiGo issue travel advisories

Iran and Israel have shut their airspace following a missile attack on Tehran carried out by Israel and the United States, prompting airlines, including IndiGo, to issue advisories to passengers. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) confirming the closure of Iranian airspace was issued, as per Flightradar, while the BBC reported that Israel has also closed its skies. The joint operation was nicknamed “Operation Lion’s roar”.

Apart from Tehran, explosions were reported in Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah and Isfahan. A visual representation shared by Flightradar24 showed the airspace over both Iran and Israel devoid of aircraft in the aftermath of the strikes.

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IndiGo issues statement

Airlines in India have begun alerting passengers to possible disruptions for flights to and from Iran. IndiGo said in a statement on X, (formerly Twitter), “We are closely monitoring regional updates concerning Iran and its airspace. The safety and security of our customers and crew remain our highest priority. Our teams stand prepared to implement any necessary adjustments as the situation evolves. Customers are advised to check their flight status prior to departure. In the event of any impact, updates will be communicated promptly via registered contact details.”

Air India shares message

Air India shared its statement on X, "In view of the developing situation in parts of the Middle East, all Air India flights to all destinations in the Middle East have been suspended. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety for our passengers and crew. We will continue to assess the safety and security environment for our flight operations and adjust operations proactively as required. Our teams will be extending all necessary support to passengers."

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The airline added that it will continue to keep flyers informed of any further changes.

Iran retaliates

In a subsequent update, Israel’s IDF indicated that Iran had launched missiles toward Israel in retaliation. “A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. In the past few minutes, the Home Front Command has sent a precautionary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas,” the IDF said in an X post.

The IDF further stated that sirens were sounded across Israel following the missile launches. “At this time, the IAF [Israeli Air Force] is operating to intercept and strike threats where necessary to remove the threat,” it said.