In response to rising tensions with Pakistan, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has temporarily shut down civil operations at 32 airports across Northern and Western India and issued extensive airspace restrictions. The closures, effective from May 9 to 15, 2025, have been attributed to “operational reasons,” according to official notices issued to Airmen (NOTAMs).
The suspended airports include strategically important locations such as Amritsar, Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Bhuj, Jaisalmer, Pathankot, and Ambala—many of which are in close proximity to the border with Pakistan. The full list also includes Adhampur, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Halwara, Hindon, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Kandla, Kangra (Gaggal), Keshod, Kishangarh, Kullu-Manali (Bhuntar), Ludhiana, Mundra, Naliya, Patiala, Porbandar, Rajkot (Hirasar), Sarsawa, Shimla, Thoise, and Uttarlai.
“All civil flight operations at these airports are suspended during the specified period,” a senior Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) official confirmed.
In addition to airport closures, 25 segments of key Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes within the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions (FIRs) have also been shut down. According to NOTAM G0555/25, the affected air corridors will remain unavailable from ground level to unlimited altitude until 2359 UTC on May 14, 2025 (0529 IST, May 15, 2025). Airlines have been advised to chart alternate routes to avoid disruptions, and coordination with Air Traffic Control (ATC) units is ongoing to ensure flight safety.
These developments coincide with an alarming rise in aerial intrusions. Defence sources confirmed that armed drones originating from Pakistan were sighted at 26 locations, stretching from Baramulla in the north to Bhuj in the south, along both the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC). The drones, suspected to be weaponized, pose threats to both civilian and military targets.
Reported drone sightings include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala.
Indian armed forces remain on high alert, and security measures have been ramped up across affected regions to neutralize aerial threats and ensure civilian safety. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, and additional advisories are expected if the threat level escalates.