Air Turbulence After Operation Sindoor: Flights Cancelled Across North India Following Precision Strikes

New Delhi : Following the Indian Army’s high-precision ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeting nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), civilian air travel across several northern states was significantly disrupted on Wednesday.

The pre-dawn military strikes, aimed at terror infrastructure linked to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national, prompted airspace restrictions, leading to widespread flight cancellations and delays.

Air India announced the suspension of all flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot until noon on May 7. Two international flights headed to Amritsar were also diverted to Delhi. The airline assured passengers that updates would follow as the situation evolved.

IndiGo Airlines also grounded flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, and Jodhpur, citing the prevailing security environment. The airline advised travelers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport.

SpiceJet issued a similar advisory, confirming operational shutdowns at key airports including Dharamshala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar. Passengers were urged to monitor their flights and plan travel accordingly.

The government emphasized that the strikes were targeted, measured, and non-escalatory, focused solely on terror bases. No civilian or Pakistani military assets were harmed in the operation, the Indian Army stated.

According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi closely monitored the mission overnight. He remained in constant communication with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top military commanders to ensure the operation proceeded according to plan.

‘Operation Sindoor’ marks a bold retaliation to rising cross-border terrorism, drawing a sharp line against those sheltering extremists. While normalcy in the skies is expected to return soon, the impact of the operation has already sent strong ripples both on the ground and in the air.