An IndiGo plane, flying from New Delhi to Manchester in the United Kingdom, was forced to return to the Indian capital after a flight lasting about seven hours on Monday. This happened due to last-minute airspace restrictions linked to ongoing tensions in West Asia (or the Middle East) since the US and Israel attacked Iran 10 days ago.
The IndiGo flight, operated by Norwegian airline Norse as a partner, turned around while flying near the Ethiopia-Eritrea border, X tracking portal Flightradar24 said.
An IndiGo spokesperson said: “Due to the evolving situation in and around the Middle East, some of our flights may take longer routes or face diversions. Our flight 6E 033, operating from Delhi to Manchester, was forced to return to its originating point due to last-minute airspace restrictions, due to the ongoing situation in West Asia. We are working with the relevant authorities to explore the possibilities of resuming the flight. As always, the safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft is of utmost importance to us.”
The conflict in West Asia, which began on February 28, continues to expand beyond Iran and Israel, as Tehran strikes US bases throughout the Gulf region, including in countries such as Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia has also accused Iran of aggression, while the latter says it is only attacking US bases in response to an unprovoked attack.
The airspace in that region has been largely closed, but flights have been operating on alternative routes, some to and from the UAE as well, over the past week.
