New Delhi: As tensions between Iran and Israel intensify, Indian aviation authorities have begun diverting multiple international flights to ensure the safety of passengers and crew amid the closure of Iranian airspace. Air India, the country's national carrier, confirmed that several of its flights were either rerouted mid-air or forced to return due to the emerging conflict in West Asia.

Two Air India flights were notably turned back to Delhi, including AI103, which was en route to Washington but had to circle in the sky for nearly three hours before safely landing. The airline emphasized that the decisions were made with passenger safety as the top priority in a region now facing the threat of war.

According to data from the flight-tracking platform Flightradar24, at least 15 commercial flights have avoided flying over Iran, Iraq, and Israel since the airspace closures were implemented. The sudden shift in air traffic routes follows Israel’s strike on Iranian targets, which included nuclear and missile facilities. In response, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport was temporarily shut down, and Israeli national carrier El Al suspended its flight operations indefinitely.

Iranian state-run media also confirmed that the country's airspace has been closed to all civilian air traffic until further notice. Air India responded swiftly, diverting or recalling a number of its transcontinental flights to avoid the conflict zone.

List of Affected Flights:
• AI130 – London Heathrow to Mumbai: Diverted to Vienna
• AI102 – New York to Delhi: Diverted to Sharjah
• AI129 – Mumbai to London Heathrow: Returned to Mumbai
• AI119 – Mumbai to New York: Returned to Mumbai
• AI103 – Delhi to Washington DC: Returned to Delhi
• AI106 – New York to Delhi: Returned to Delhi
• AI188 – Vancouver to Delhi: Diverted to Jeddah

With escalating fears of retaliatory strikes and growing instability across the Middle East, Indian airlines are expected to continue monitoring the situation closely and make further route adjustments as needed. Passengers are advised to stay updated through official airline communication channels.