Delhi-Bound IndiGo Flight From Georgia Crosses Iran Minutes Before Sudden Airspace Closure

An unexpected closure of Iranian airspace has disrupted international aviation. A Delhi-bound aircraft from Georgia passed through Iran just hours before Tehran ordered a sudden shutdown, prompting Indian airlines to warn passengers of delays and cancellations amid escalating unrest in the region.

According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, IndiGo flight 6E1808 left Tbilisi at 11.29am on Wednesday and landed in Delhi at 7.03am on Thursday. The aircraft crossed Iranian airspace at around 2.35 am, shortly before the shutdown took effect.

Iran closed its entire airspace at 22:15 UTC (3:45 AM IST on January 15).

Iran closed its airspace in the early hours of Thursday after issuing a Notice to Airmen, or NOTAM. The order halted most commercial

flights, allowing only a limited number of approved international operations. Flight tracking data showed the skies over Iran and neighbouring Iraq emptying rapidly ahead of the closure.

Iran later extended the shutdown as tensions remained high following a violent crackdown on anti-Khamenei protests. More than 2,400 protesters have been killed in the two weeks since unrest began on December 28.

Indian airlines warn passengers

Following the sudden airspace closure, IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet warned travellers of potential disruptions to international flights. Passengers have been advised to check their flight status and consider alternative travel options.

IndiGo confirmed that some of its international services have been affected and said it is offering rebooking options or refunds to impacted customers. Air India said flights over the region are being rerouted where possible, which may cause delays, while some services that cannot be rerouted have been cancelled. SpiceJet also cautioned that certain flights may be impacted and urged passengers to check before heading to the airport.

Global impact

Iran’s airspace lies on a key east-west aviation route, and the closure quickly affected global flight operations. Iran had earlier shut its airspace during the June conflict with Israel and during exchanges of fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The latest move has fuelled speculation of an imminent attack on Tehran, especially after the United States pulled troops from its largest Middle East base. A Western military official told that an attack could be imminent, though such actions are often used to keep adversaries uncertain.