By Staff Reporter
SHARJAH, 10 March 2026 – Hundreds of passengers on two IndiGo international flights were stranded after their journeys were disrupted due to airspace restrictions and crew duty limitations amid the ongoing US‑Israel‑Iran conflict.
On Sunday, flight 6E002 from London Heathrow to Mumbai was diverted to Cairo after facing approval issues while entering Eritrean airspace. Around 300 passengers were stranded in Cairo for more than eight hours. The airline arranged hotel accommodation and visas for the passengers, with the flight expected to resume on Tuesday. Crew duty time restrictions meant that the flight crew had to complete their mandatory rest period before continuing the journey.
The following day, IndiGo flight 6E033 from New Delhi to Manchester had to return to Delhi after encountering last-minute airspace restrictions near the Eritrean border. The aircraft made a midair U-turn and landed back in Delhi at 2:30 PM local time.
An IndiGo spokesperson said:
“Due to the evolving situation in and around the Middle East, some of our flights may take longer routes or experience diversions. We are working with the relevant authorities to explore options to resume these journeys. The safety and security of our customers, crew, and aircraft remain our top priority.”
Indian carriers have been forced to adopt longer routes via Africa to avoid restricted airspace, as flights over Pakistan and Afghanistan are currently unavailable. These changes have increased flight durations to Europe, with travel times now exceeding ten hours.
The ongoing conflict has also led to the cancellation of over 100 flights from India to the US and Europe in recent days, causing widespread disruption to international air travel.
Source: Khaleej Times
