Amritsar Airport Shut Amid Rising Indo-Pak Tensions Following Operation Sindoor

Flight operations suspended across northern India as precaution after India’s precision strikes on terror camps; security and aviation alerts remain in force

Amritsar (Punjab), May 7:
As tensions surge between India and Pakistan following India’s retaliatory strikes on terror infrastructure, Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar has been shut until further notice, with flight operations suspended across several northern cities.

Speaking on the sudden closure, ADCP-2 Sirivennela, IPS, confirmed: “We received information that all flights need to be cancelled and the airport has to be shut. The whole airport is shut… until further orders.”

The move comes after India launched Operation Sindoor — a coordinated military action involving precision strikes on nine terror targets across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK), in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.

Major Airlines Grounded Flights:
In response, Air India, Air India Express, and SpiceJet have suspended operations to and from key northern airports, including Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot. Two international flights bound for Amritsar were also diverted to Delhi.

In a statement on X, Air India said:
“Due to the prevailing situation, flights to and from multiple stations have been cancelled till 12 noon on May 7. Further updates will follow based on directives from authorities. We regret the inconvenience caused.”

Air India Express also alerted passengers about disruptions across its network, while SpiceJet confirmed airport closures in Dharamshala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar, advising travelers to check their flight status before proceeding.

Operation Sindoor and Its Fallout:
India’s strike targeted high-ranking operatives and bases of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), known for cross-border attacks. According to the Ministry of Defence, the strikes were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” deliberately avoiding Pakistani military installations.

Despite India’s calibrated approach, Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement within hours, shelling the Bhimber Gali sector in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri-Poonch region. The Indian Army responded with “calibrated and appropriate force,” confirmed the ADGPI.

With the situation remaining volatile, aviation authorities and security agencies continue to assess risks and may update advisories throughout the day. Passengers are urged to follow official airline channels and helplines for the latest updates.

India’s decisive action and ongoing vigilance underline its zero-tolerance stance against terrorism — while keeping operational readiness and civilian safety at the forefront.