Afghan Airspace Closed, Air India Flight To Kabul Can't Operate: Official

16 Aug, 2021 14:56 IST|Sakshi Post

"Airspace over Afghanistan is declared closed, so no aircraft can operate there. Our scheduled flight to Kabul also cannot go," an Air India spokesperson said.

New Delhi: Following the closure of airspace above Afghanistan, an Air India aircraft bound for Kabul will be unable to fly, according to an Air India representative. The flight had been moved from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. earlier. Two planes with personnel are believed to be on standby for evacuation, according to reports.

An official stated on Monday that the national carrier's scheduled Air India flight to Kabul would be unable to fly due to the closure of airspace above Afghanistan.

"Airspace over Afghanistan is declared closed, so no aircraft can operate there. Our scheduled flight to Kabul also cannot go," an Air India spokesperson said.

The airline had a planned flight from Delhi to Kabul at 8.50 a.m. on Monday, but it was rescheduled to 12.50 p.m. and then halted when Kabul's airspace was closed due to the issuance of a NOTAM, or notice to airmen, which is official notification giving information on flight operations.

Officials from the national carrier stated on Sunday that they were monitoring the situation in Kabul and that scheduled flights to the region would continue for the time being.

All commercial flights have been halted at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, according to a statement.

People should avoid crowds at the airport, according to the statement.

With 129 passengers on board, Air India flight 244 departed Kabul for Delhi at 6.06 p.m. on Sunday.

"We are monitoring the situation and, as of now, are continuing with our scheduled flights to Kabul," an Air India spokesperson said.

On Sunday afternoon, Air India flight 243 from Delhi to Kabul, which was due to land at 1.45 p.m., remained in the air for over two hours, hovering near the capital as news of the Taliban entering Kabul's gates surfaced. Around 3.30 p.m., the plane touched down.

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