AGENCIES
The orders to shut down nine airports after Pakistan violated India’s airspace have been withdrawn, with reports suggesting that operations have resumed from some of the airports such as Jammu.
Authorities had shut down nine airports — Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Pathankot, Amritsar, Shimla, Kangra, Kullu Manali, Pithoragarh — for civilian air traffic amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, officials said.
In Srinagar, an official of the Airports Authority of India had said, “The civilian air traffic has been suspended temporarily in view of the emergency”. While the official did not specify the nature of the emergency, it was believed the step was taken in view of an IAF jet crashing in Budgam district.
Officials said they received instructions from air traffic controllers that the airports have been shut for civilian flights. Some of the flights en route to Jammu, Leh and Srinagar airports were diverted to their origin stations, they added. Airports at Chandigarh, Pathankot, Halwara and Bathinda were also put on high alert.
Commercial operations from Chandigarh international airport are on. Earlier, operations at Chandigarh were halted for some time.
Vistara Airlines had said in a tweet, “Due to airspace restrictions flights to and from Amritsar, Srinagar and Jammu are currently on hold. Chandigarh is now open again for flights”.
Jet Airways had also said that in “line with the instructions received from Delhi ATC regarding airport closure Jet Airways flight operations to and from Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar and Leh have been suspended until further notice”.