As Operation Sindoor unfolds and Pakistan retaliates with drone and missile strikes, air travel chaos continues in North India with over 200 flights disrupted and 24 airports closed till May 10.
May 9, 2025: Escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan have severely impacted civil aviation, with 228 flights cancelled over the past two days at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). The disruptions follow Pakistan’s drone and missile attacks on Indian cities across Jammu, Punjab, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, prompting India to issue airspace restrictions and elevate national security protocols.
On Friday alone, 138 flights were cancelled at Delhi airport, including 66 domestic departures, 63 domestic arrivals, and 9 international flights. A day earlier, more than 90 flights were scrapped, while over 200 others were delayed during peak morning hours.
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“Delhi airport operations remain normal, but due to heightened security and evolving airspace conditions, some flight schedules may be impacted,” Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said in a statement. Passengers were advised to anticipate delays, cooperate with airline staff, and arrive early for security checks.
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The Civil Aviation Ministry has also announced the temporary closure of 24 airports till May 10. The list includes major hubs such as Srinagar, Leh, Chandigarh, Jammu, Amritsar, and Bhuj — primarily airports near the western border that also serve military operations.
This follows India’s military retaliation under Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. On Thursday night, Pakistan attempted a large-scale aerial assault which was intercepted by Indian air defence systems, triggering blackouts and air raid sirens across several northern states. The IPL match in Dharamshala was suspended mid-game due to security alerts.
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List of Airports Closed for Civilian Flights Until May 10:
Amritsar, Bathinda, Bhuj, Bhuntar, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Halwara, Hirasa (Rajkot), Jammu, Jamnagar, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Kangra-Gaggal, Kandla, Keshod, Kishengarh, Leh, Ludhiana, Mundra, Patiala, Pathankot, Porbandar, Shimla, Srinagar.
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India Pakistan conflict, Delhi airport flight cancellations, Operation Sindoor, airspace restrictions India, airport shutdowns, civil aviation crisis, India retaliates Pahalgam attack, IGIA delays, Pakistan drone strike, IPL suspended, OperationSindoor,