Tensions boiled over in the Middle East as Israel’s surprise assault on Iran Saturday morning compelled Air India’s Delhi-to-Tel Aviv flight to make a hasty retreat back to Delhi, mid-flight.
Tehran’s skyline lit up with blasts in high-profile zones like University Street, Jomhouri, and government-heavy Paster Street, where eyewitnesses reported heavy smoke. Israel’s top defense official verified the preemptive hits, but details on losses are scarce.
Nationwide, IDF blared sirens, pushed shelter alerts via phones, shut down schools, urged home offices, and canceled public activities to counter possible missile threats from Iran.
Airspace shutdowns rippled outward, snarling routes for carriers globally. IndiGo stepped up with a cautionary note, tracking developments in Iranian skies while safeguarding travelers and staff.
Flightradar24 logs exposed the scramble: Emirates Flight EK225 from Dubai to San Francisco detoured over Afghanistan-Pakistan; Flyadeal FZ984 from Kazan to Dubai landed in Baku; AI126 Chicago-Delhi buzzed over Syria; and Air Arabia G9950 Sharjah-Moscow routed via Pakistan.
Layered atop US-Iran nuclear deal frictions—Trump’s ‘dangerous’ label ringing fresh—Geneva’s third-round diplomacy wrapped Thursday, priming for Saturday’s follow-up.
The aviation sector reels, with diverted flights underscoring how swiftly regional hostilities upend global travel networks.