Iran temporarily shut down the airspace around its capital, Tehran, as tensions with the United States grew and protests continued across the country. The closure was announced through a Notice to Air Missions, also known as a NOTAM. It was put in place for about two hours, lasting until 4 am local time on Thursday, according to The Guardian. During this period, flights were not allowed to enter or pass through the airspace unless they were international flights arriving in or leaving Tehran with special permission from Iran’s civil aviation authority.

The closure also affected Indian carriers, prompting airlines including IndiGo and Air India to issue advisories to passengers. The move came at a time when the situation inside Iran remains tense, with nationwide protests and increasing pressure from foreign governments.

Airlines reroute as planes avoid Iranian skies

Almost immediately after the closure, FlightRadar24 shared an update on social media showing how aircraft were rerouting to stay clear of the country. One post said: “IndiGo flight 6E1808 is now the last non-Iran-registered passenger aircraft in Iranian airspace.” At the same time, several countries, including Germany, issued warnings to airlines, advising them to avoid flying through Iranian airspace. US airlines were already banned from overflying Iran.

ALSO READ

Indian Airlines issue travel advisories

In a travel advisory, IndiGo said, “Due to the sudden airspace closure by Iran, some of our international flights are impacted. Our teams are working diligently to assess the situation and support affected customers by offering the best possible alternatives.

“This development is beyond our control, and we regret the disruption it may have caused to your travel plans. If your flight is impacted, we encourage you to visit our website to explore flexible rebooking options or to claim a refund, as per your preference.

“We remain committed to keeping you informed and supporting you through this evolving situation. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.”

Air India also warned of delays and cancellations, saying flights overflying the region were being rerouted for safety reasons. “Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace, and in view of the safety of our passengers, Air India flights overflying the region are now using an alternative routing, which may lead to delays. Some Air India flights where currently rerouting is not possible are being cancelled,” the airline said.

Air India urged passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport and added:

“Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen disruption. Safety of our passengers and crew remains top priority.”

Trump warns Iran over crackdown on protesters

The airspace closure followed a strong warning from US President Donald Trump. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he had been told that the killings linked to the protests were slowing down. He also said he believed there was no current plan to carry out executions. “There’s no plan for executions,” Trump said, referring to the case of 26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani.

Soltani had been sentenced to death, and Trump had earlier warned of military action if any executions went ahead. “I’m sure if happens, we’ll all be very upset,” Trump added. “But that’s just gotten to me … they’re not going to have an execution.”

ALSO READ

According to a Bloomberg News report, the United States has redeployed some of its personnel in Qatar and other military bases in the region. The decision was taken due to rising concerns and Iranian threats to target US locations if tensions escalate further.

The US and UK have also evacuated some staff from a military base in Qatar, as Washington considers the possibility of military action against Iran. Iranian officials have warned that any US strike would be met with retaliation.

Spain has advised its citizens to leave Iran, citing deaths and arrests linked to the protests. The Spanish foreign ministry asked citizens to follow online updates from its embassy in Tehran once internet access is restored. Italy and Poland issued similar warnings.