In a significant move impacting regional aviation, India has announced a further extension of its airspace closure for all Pakistani civilian and military planes, with the ban now set to remain in effect until October 24.
This decision mirrors a similar measure taken by Pakistan, which has also closed its airspace to Indian aircraft for the same period. Both nations have maintained these restrictions since April, following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack that heightened tensions between the two countries.
Official Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) have been issued by both India and Pakistan, formally extending these airspace prohibitions.
According to India’s NOTAM, its airspace will be inaccessible to all aircraft registered in Pakistan, as well as those owned, operated, or leased by Pakistani airlines and operators, including military flights.
The current closure is slated to continue until 2359 hours (UTC) on October 23, which corresponds to 0530 hours (IST) on October 24.
These restrictions were initially implemented on April 30, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals. Since then, these vital airspace limitations have been repeatedly prolonged by both sides.
For context, a NOTAM is a crucial notice distributed to aviators, providing information that is essential for flight operations, often pertaining to potential hazards, changes in facilities, services, or procedures in national airspace.