India Extends Closure of 24 Airports Amid Pakistan Drone Threat, Airspace Tensions Rise

In response to escalating hostilities with Pakistan, the Indian government has extended the closure of 24 airports until the morning of May 15. The move comes after a series of drone and missile attacks launched by Pakistan targeting Indian cities and military infrastructure earlier this week. A senior government official confirmed the decision was taken following a security review with key stakeholders, and all relevant airline and airport authorities have been notified.

Airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, have issued travel advisories informing passengers of the cancellations. IndiGo stated that flights to and from destinations such as Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Rajkot, Jodhpur, and Kishangarh will remain suspended until 5:29 a.m. on May 15. The airline emphasized that passenger safety remains the highest priority.

Air India also announced cancellations on social media, listing affected locations including Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Bhuj, Jamnagar, and Rajkot. The airline is offering a one-time waiver on rescheduling fees or full refunds for passengers impacted by the temporary shutdown.

The decision follows Pakistan’s large-scale drone and missile assault on the night of May 7-8, when 300 to 400 drones were deployed across 36 locations, according to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi during a press briefing. The drones, suspected to be Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models, were reportedly intended to test India’s air defense capabilities and gather intelligence. Indian armed forces successfully intercepted many of these drones using a mix of kinetic and non-kinetic systems.

Defence sources also confirmed that Pakistan had used Hamas-style missile tactics, launching a barrage of cheap rockets targeting cities across Jammu. The attack is seen as retaliation for India’s Operation Sindoor, a precision strike launched on May 7 targeting nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

India’s military countered with a large-scale operation, downing over 50 Pakistani drones and neutralizing attempted incursions at multiple sites along the Line of Control and the International Border. Notably, Indian forces also reportedly disabled a Pakistani air defense system near Lahore.

As tensions continue to mount along the western front, heightened security measures, airspace restrictions, and military preparedness remain in full force, with authorities warning of potential further escalation.