Pakistan Used Civilian Flights As Shield During Drone Attack, Says Indian Air Force

India accuses Pakistan of endangering international air traffic by keeping its civil airspace open during unprovoked drone and missile strikes on May 7.

New Delhi, May 9, 2025:
In a serious accusation amid ongoing hostilities, India on Friday said that Pakistan deliberately kept its civil airspace open during its May 7 drone and missile attacks, in what it described as a dangerous attempt to use civilian airliners as shields.

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Addressing the media, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force said, “Pakistan launched a failed unprovoked attack on Indian cities at 8:30 PM but did not shut down its civilian airspace. It knowingly risked civilian lives, assuming India would retaliate instantly.”

She added that real-time flight data revealed numerous civilian aircraft flying in Pakistani airspace, particularly between Karachi and Lahore, at the time of heightened tensions. In stark contrast, India had cleared its skies of all civil traffic, anticipating possible retaliatory action and prioritizing public safety.

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“The Indian Air Force exercised significant restraint to ensure the safety of international flights. Our systems were on high alert, but we made sure not to jeopardize any civilian movement,” said Wing Commander Singh, while displaying data from FlightRadar24 as evidence.

India said the tactic violates the principles of responsible military conduct and endangers unsuspecting international carriers flying in the region. Officials warned that this act of military deception using civil cover could have triggered a global aviation crisis.

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This revelation follows Pakistan’s failed multi-drone offensive that was part of a broader escalation following India’s Operation Sindoor—a targeted strike on terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Tags:
Pakistan airspace misuse, Indian Air Force, Operation Sindoor, civil aviation risk, India Pakistan tensions, drone attack India, Karachi Lahore air route, air defence alert, FlightRadar24 data, civilian aircraft shield, OperationSindoor,