Air India flights avoid Iran airspace, take longer route amid rising tensions
PTC News Desk: Air India flights are now starting to avoid Iranian airspace amid rising Middle East tensions, with warnings of retaliation for Israel's raid on Iran's embassy in Damascus earlier this month, sources said today.
This morning, an Air India flight bound for London chose a longer route to avoid Iranian airspace, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.
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According to sources, all Air India aircraft headed for Europe will now have up to two hours longer to reach their destination.
However, Air India flights to the Middle East will be unaffected because they travel south of Iranian airspace.
The 'shadow war' between the two Middle Eastern countries escalated after an Israeli airstrike struck the Iran consulate in Damascus on April 1, killing seven people, including two generals. According to US and other intelligence estimates, retaliation might begin as early as Sunday. The unprecedented attack could spark an all-out regional conflict.
- With inputs from agencies
