Kuwait shuts airspace after drone strike hits airport terminal, IndiGo halts flights

Kuwait suspended flight operations and temporarily closed its airspace on Tuesday after hostile drones struck Terminal 1 of Kuwait International Airport amid Iran’s ongoing missile and drone offensive in the Gulf region.

The attack caused damage to the airport’s passenger terminal and prompted airlines, including IndiGo, to halt services to and from Kuwait.

Kuwait confirms drone strike on airport

Confirming the incident, Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense said the airport had been targeted during what it described as Iranian aggression.

"A number of hostile drones targeted today the passenger building (T1) at Kuwait International Airport as a result of the criminal Iranian aggression, which resulted in significant material damage to the building and injuries to a number of individuals, who received the necessary medical care," official spokesperson Brigadier General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi said in a statement.

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He further stated that "The armed forces are monitoring the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities, and they are in a state of complete readiness to deal with any developments, and to take all necessary measures to preserve the security of the country and its stability."

The strike on a civilian airport marks a major escalation in the regional conflict, which had largely focused on military targets until now.

IndiGo suspends Kuwait flights

Following the closure of Kuwaiti airspace, IndiGo issued a travel advisory announcing the suspension of its operations to and from the country.

"In view of the ongoing airspace closure in Kuwait, our flight operations to and from Kuwait have been suspended until 1200 hrs on 4 June 2026," the airline posted on X.

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The airline said the move was taken "with the safety and well-being of our customers and crew as our highest priority" and advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

Affected travellers were also informed that they could seek rebooking assistance or request a full refund through the airline’s official channels.

Conflict spreads to civilian infrastructure

Kuwait International Airport is among the busiest aviation hubs in the Gulf and handles a significant number of international flights, including services connecting India and the Middle East.

The airport attack comes amid a broader Iranian offensive involving missile and drone strikes targeting Kuwait and Bahrain. Iran has described the attacks as retaliation for earlier US strikes on Qeshm Island.

The targeting of a civilian passenger terminal signals a sharp escalation in the conflict and has raised fresh concerns over aviation safety and regional stability.