New Delhi: In response to escalating hostilities along the western front, the Government of India has extended the closure of 28 airports nationwide until 5:29 AM on May 15. The decision follows a series of drone incursions and airspace violations by the Pakistani military, targeting key military installations across Northern and Western India.
According to senior officials, the Ministry of Civil Aviation made the decision after high-level consultations with security agencies and civil aviation stakeholders. Airlines and airport operators have been officially notified of the extended closures.
Airports in high-risk zones, including Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Rajkot, Jodhpur, and Kishangarh, are among those affected.
IndiGo Airlines issued a statement confirming the suspension of operations to and from these destinations, assuring passengers that their safety remains the highest priority. Similarly, Air India announced the cancellation of flights to affected locations and offered a one-time waiver on rescheduling fees or full refunds for impacted travellers.
The extended shutdown comes amid a significant escalation in regional tensions. On the nights of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani military reportedly launched large-scale aerial incursions using 300 to 400 drones across 36 locations. Indian forces intercepted and neutralized many of these drones using a combination of kinetic and electronic countermeasures.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, addressing a press briefing, confirmed that the drones—believed to be Turkish-manufactured Asisguard Songar models—were likely deployed for reconnaissance and to test India’s air defense capabilities. She added that Pakistani forces also fired heavy-caliber weapons along the Line of Control (LoC) during the same period.
Further intensifying the situation, Pakistan launched a barrage of missiles targeting the Jammu region on Thursday in what security officials described as a “Hamas-style” attack, involving the use of numerous low-cost projectiles aimed at urban centres.
These provocations follow India’s launch of Operation Sindoor on May 8, during which the Indian armed forces conducted precision strikes against nine terror infrastructure sites located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was carried out in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
On Thursday, Indian forces reported shooting down over 50 Pakistani drones during a wide-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and international border areas. Indian defense systems also successfully neutralized incoming missile threats and reportedly took out an air defense facility near Lahore.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with heightened alert across northern and western states.
