Two IndiGo international flights were diverted because of airspace closures and crew duty constraints, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
About 300 passengers on IndiGo flight 6E002, traveling from London’s Heathrow Airport to Mumbai, had to disembark after the aircraft was diverted to Cairo on Sunday due to approval issues while entering Eritrea’s airspace, according to media reports. Passengers were stranded in Cairo for more than eight hours.
The following day, another IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Manchester was forced to return to the Indian capital after encountering airspace restrictions.
Indian carriers forced to reroute flights amid Middle East conflict
Indian airlines have been compelled to modify or avoid certain flight routes due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Many carriers are now taking longer routes over Africa for flights to Europe, resulting in journey times exceeding 10 hours. Restrictions on the Pakistan–Afghanistan air corridor have further limited options, forcing flights to take extended detours.
The conflict has disrupted international operations from India to both the US and Europe, leading to the cancellation of more than 100 flights in recent days.
About 300 passengers on IndiGo flight 6E002, operating from London’s Heathrow Airport to Mumbai, had to disembark after the aircraft was diverted to Cairo on Sunday. The diversion was prompted by approval issues while entering Eritrea’s airspace, coupled with flight duty time limitations for the crew, who needed to complete their mandatory rest period. The plane had initially traveled southeast across Europe, entered Egyptian airspace, and then turned back to land in Cairo, where passengers were stranded for more than eight hours. The airline arranged hotel accommodation and visas for those affected, with the flight expected to resume on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, another IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Manchester had to return to its origin after encountering airspace restrictions near Eritrea, landing back in Delhi at 2:30 pm local time.
A spokesperson for IndiGo said, “Due to the evolving situation in and around the Middle East, some of our flights may take longer routes or experience diversions. Our flight 6E033 from Delhi to Manchester had to return to its origin because of last-minute airspace restrictions owing to the ongoing situation in West Asia. We are coordinating with the relevant authorities to explore possibilities of resuming the journey. The safety and security of our customers, crew, and aircraft remain our top priority.”
