The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Friday announced the extension of the ban on the use of Indian airspace by Pakistani aircraft until June 23, 2025.

As per the Ministry, the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting access for Pakistani flights has been extended for another month.

The Ministry stated, “Indian airspace is not approved for ACFTs registered in Pakistan and ACFTs operated/owned or leased by Pakistani airlines/operators, including military flights.”

Earlier, it was reported that the Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight 6E 2142, which was caught in a sudden hailstorm near Pathankot on May 21, was denied entry into Pakistani airspace, which was sought by the pilot to avoid turbulence.

According to the crew’s statement to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilot’s request was dismissed by the Lahore Air Traffic Control.

“On 21.05.2025, Indigo A321 Neo aircraft VT-IMD operated flight 6E-2142 (Delhi -Srinagar). While cruising at FL360, aircraft entered hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot. As per the crew statement, they requested Northern control (IAF) for deviation towards left (International Border) due to weather on the route; however, it was not approved,” the DGCA said.”

Later, the crew contacted Lahore to enter their airspace to avoid the weather, but the same was refused, too,” it added.

The DGCA said that the crew initially attempted to return, but as they were close to the thunderstorm cloud, they decided to penetrate the weather.

“Subsequently, they encountered a hailstorm and severe turbulence. The crew chose to continue on the same heading to exit the weather by the shortest route towards Srinagar. While in a thunderstorm cloud, warnings of Angle of Attack fault, Alternate Law protection lost, and backup Speed scale unreliable were triggered,” DGCA said.

It said that due to updraft and down draft encountered by the aircraft, the Autopilot tripped, and the aircraft’s speed had wide variations.

“As a result, Maximum Operating Speed/Maximum operating Mach (VMO/MMO) warnings and repeated stall warnings were triggered. During this period the aircraft rate of descent reached 8500 fpm crew flew the aircraft manually till they exit the hailstorm,” DGCA said.

“After carrying out all checklist actions (ECAM actions), the crew declared PAN PAN to Srinagar ATC and requested RADAR vectors and made a safe landing with Auto Thrust operating normally. There was no injury to any of the passengers on board the flight. Post flight walk around revealed damage to the Nose radome. The matter is under investigation by the DGCA,” it added.

Earlier, IndiGo Airlines had issued a statement after the incident, saying, “IndiGo flight 6E 2142 operating from Delhi to Srinagar encountered a sudden hailstorm en route. The flight and cabin crew followed established protocol, and the aircraft landed safely in Srinagar. The airport team attended to the customers after the arrival of the aircraft, prioritising their well-being and comfort. The aircraft will be released post-necessary inspection and maintenance” (ANI)

The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced on Friday that the ban on the use of Indian airspace by Pakistani aircraft will remain in effect until June 23, 2025. This decision was communicated through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), indicating continued restrictions for Pakistani flights.

The Ministry specified, “Indian airspace is not approved for ACFTs registered in Pakistan and those operated or leased by Pakistani airlines, including military flights.” Notably, this announcement comes after an incident involving IndiGo flight 6E 2142, which encountered a severe hailstorm on May 21 near Pathankot. The pilot reportedly sought permission to enter Pakistani airspace but was denied by Lahore Air Traffic Control.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that IndiGo’s A321 Neo aircraft found itself amidst severe turbulence, prompting the crew to request a deviation towards the International Border. Despite their attempts, they were refused entry into Pakistani airspace, leading them to penetrate the adverse weather.

The aircraft faced a hailstorm and severe turbulence, which triggered multiple system warnings. Ultimately, the IndiGo crew made a safe landing in Srinagar after declaring a PAN PAN situation to ATC. IndiGo confirmed no injuries were reported, and the aircraft is undergoing inspection. The DGCA continues to investigate the incident.

(With inputs from agencies.)

India on Friday extended the closure of its airspace for flights operated by Pakistan airlines by another month till June 23, according to sources.

The ban imposed on April 30 as part of various measures taken by the government against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people was set to expire on May 23 (Saturday).

Delhi: Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu says, “Further, as we move forward, we are going to take guidance from the security agencies in this regard. This is not just a decision that the Ministry of Civil Aviation is making single-handedly. This concerns the… pic.twitter.com/Pxl2WYEHf5 — IANS (@ians_india) May 23, 2025

The Indian airspace will not be available for aircraft registered in Pakistan as well as for planes operated, owned or leased by Pakistan airlines and operators till June 23, 2025, according to the fresh NOTAM issued on Friday.

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As per the NOTAM, the ban will also be applicable to Pakistan’s military aircraft.

Pakistan has also extended the ban on its airspace for Indian flights by a month till June 24.

On April 24, Pakistan banned its airspace for India until May 23, after the Indian government suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan.

On April 23, a day after the Pahalgam attack, India announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the only operational land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of cross-border links to the massacre.

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In response, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airliners and suspended all trade with India, including through third countries.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

By Surabhi Gupta

New Delhi: India has further extended the closure of its airspace to Pakistani aircraft for another month effective as per NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). The Ministry of Civil Aviation states that Indian airspace is closed to anyone who operates any aircraft registered in Pakistan or any airline or operator registered in Pakistan or any military flight.

Pakistan has also extended the closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft. Reacting to it, former Ambassador Deepak Vohra told ETV Bharat, “In any case, their National Airlines is in deep trouble. They have no money, there’s lots of corruption. There was a scandal. Some years ago of Pakistani Pilots purchased their licenses from the local barber shops.”

Former Ambassador Deepak Vohra sharing his views (ETV Bharat)

“So Europe and the United States banned flights by PI. Then they had some issues with all, their crew members being overweight, and some of their crew members would run away once they landed in the United. However, their flights are mainly to the west and whatever, aircraft they have left, probably 3 or 4. They go to Dubai, they go to Saudi Arabia and so on, they don’t go to these so they don’t really overfly Indian airspace and that’s not going to hurt them,” he added.

He said Indian airlines will have an impact to a certain extent after the airspace closure by Pakistan. “To some extent, yes. Certainly, more than it will hurt Pakistan. Because as far as we are concerned, the aviation sector in India is booming growing by 30-40% a year. New aircraft are being ordered and while the domestic aircraft sector, domestic tourism sector, domestic air travel sector is growing much faster than the international air travel sector yet with growing income levels, with growing purchasing power, the Indian consumer now wants to travel, he wants to go overseas,” Vohra said.

“We see the lines of people wanting visas to go to Europe, or to the United States, or to Japan, or wherever. So, for those Indian Travelers, wanting to go west, certainly, it will impact as the fairs will go up their airlines will pass the fairs on to them, but the real reassurance to us is that our people can afford it. We now have the power, the economic power to afford higher prices, and we will continue to do what we want. Pakistan will lose ultimately in terms of whatever revenues they were supposed to get, if people are overflying or people land there, airlines like that, there’s going to be a lot of trouble but then no one has accused Pakistan of being clever. They are known to cut off their face to spite their nose,” Vohra added.

Increasing Operational Costs and Passenger Inconvenience

Since April 24, over 800+ weekly flights from North Indian airports have been re-routed since Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights. The airports impacted include international flights from Delhi, Amritsar, Jaipur, and Lucknow. Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet have amended routing to avoid Pakistani airspace.

IndiGo, in particular, has had to suspend flights to Almaty and Tashkent. According to airline data analytics firm Cirium, about 640 of the affected weekly flights originate or arrive at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, India’s busiest aviation hub.

Airspace Diplomacy: A One-Sided Impact

On April 30, India closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft and airlines. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operates just six flights a week to destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, the only ones routinely crossing Indian skies.

Vohra also slammed Pakistan’s move of not allowing an Indian aircraft in its airspace during an emergency. “Pakistan declined permission to overfly its airspace to a domestic Indian airline that was experiencing turbulence on its approved regular route. So it wanted to make a detour to avoid that turbulence to protect the lives of its passengers. But Pakistan declined that.. What Pakistan did is contrary to all accepted norms of humane and civilized behaviour. They just do what they want because for them Jihad overrides everything else.”

Vohra explained that while countries do have full sovereignty over their airspace, a principle enshrined in international aviation law under the 1944 Chicago Convention, there is a long-standing humanitarian exception for emergencies.

“If an airliner is in trouble, seeks permission for an emergency landing, or if there is a sick person on board… we allow the plane to land. Pakistan’s action violated that universally accepted exception. If something untoward had happened, they would have celebrated it as another victory for Jihad,” Vohra said.

Veteran Indian diplomat KP Fabian told ETV Bharat, “There is no bilateral air flight between India and Pakistan. The last flight from Karachi to Bombay by Pakistan Airlines was on 7th May 2017. The decision to stop the flight was attributed to ‘commercial reasons’ though there was tension between the neighbours.”

He explained that both countries, being members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), are bound by the Chicago Convention, which affirms national sovereignty over airspace. However, he highlighted that Pakistan’s refusal broke from established aviation practices.

He said, “It is an established custom to permit a technical halt especially when the flight is facing danger. Pakistan has violated that custom. There is nothing much India can do about it as both countries have denied overflight rights to the other. Neighbours cannot be changed.”

Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft using its airspace until 4:59 AM on June 24, 2025, according to a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Friday, May 23, 2025.

This ban applies to all Indian-registered, operated, owned, or leased aircraft, including Indian military flights. During this period, no Indian flights, civilian or military, will be allowed to enter or transit through Pakistani airspace.

The extension comes amid ongoing tensions despite a ceasefire agreement announced on May 10, 2025.

The closure has caused operational challenges for Indian airlines, such as Air India, which has had to reroute flights, leading to longer travel times, increased fuel consumption, and higher operational costs—estimated at around $600 million annually.

Additionally, a recent incident where an IndiGo flight requested permission to enter Pakistani airspace to avoid turbulence was denied, highlighting the strict enforcement of the ban.

The airspace ban on Indian aircraft until June 24, 2025, reflects continued diplomatic and military tensions between the two countries, with reciprocal restrictions maintained by India on Pakistani flights