IndiGo Georgia-Delhi flight crosses Iranian airspace right before shutdown, lands safely

A Delhi-bound Indigo flight managed to fly through Iranian airspace only minutes before Iran suddenly closed its skies on Wednesday amid internal protests and heightened tensions with the US.

The Indigo aircraft, operating flight 6E1808 From Tbilisi, Georgia, took off late Wednesday night and entered Iranian airspace at around 2,35 am (IST) on Thrusday . The flight landed safely at Delhi Indra Gandhi International Airport at 7:03 am, according to Flightradar24.​

Report citing sources state that this was one of the last commercial flight operated by a non-Iranian airline to pass through Iranian airspace before authorities issued an urgent notice closing most of the country’s skies.

Iran’s aviation authorities announced the sudden shutdown through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) as violent protests spread across the country. The unrest began on December 28, forcing officials to restrict air traffic. As a result, most flights were stopped, except for a few specially approved ones, causing major disruption to airline schedules worldwide.

Impact on Indian airlines

The airspace closure has caused several problems for Indian carriers. While the Tbilisi–Delhi IndiGo flight narrowly avoided disruption, the airline has cancelled its Mumbai–Tbilisi and Tbilisi–Mumbai flights scheduled for Friday due to the ongoing situation.

IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet have issued travel advisories asking passengers to check their flight status and use options for rebooking or refunds if required. IndiGo stated that it is offering assistance to passengers affected by the sudden changes.​

In a post on social media platform X, IndiGo said the situation was beyond the airline’s control but assured travellers of support. Air India mentioned that some flights are being rerouted to avoid Iranian airspace, which may cause delays, while other services have been cancelled where rerouting is not possible.

Why Iran’s airspace is important

Iran lies on a key flight path connecting Europe, Central Asia, and South Asia. With Iranian airspace closed, airlines are forced to take longer routes, increasing travel time and putting pressure on flight schedules .​

The shutdown affects not only flights to Europe and the Middle East but also routes to places like Tbilisi and other Caucasus regions.​

At present, airlines around the world are closely watching the situation and adjusting routes wherever possible, while waiting for clarity on when Iran’s airspace will reopen.

Passengers travelling on routes that usually pass through Iranian airspace have been advised to stay updated with airline announcements and check their flight status before heading to the airport.

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