The order to shut down eight airports over the northern states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have been withdrawn. Flight operations have already resumed from some airports, including Jammu.
The order for shut down was issued a short while ago amid an escalation of hostilities with Pakistan. Sources had said the entire airspace north of Delhi has to be vacated. The list of airports included Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar and Leh, Kullu-Manali, Kangra, Shimla and Pathankot.
The area has been on high alert amid Pakistan’s warnings of retaliation after India’s fighter jets crossed the Line of Control yesterday and destroyed a vast terror camp within Pakistan in a pre-dawn strike.
Following the Indian airstrike yesterday, Pakistan started heavy shelling and firing from across the border. It has also stopped flights from Islamabad and Lahore.
This morning, there were reports of Pakistani fighter jets violating Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Rajouri sectors. Pakistan has also claimed it had shot down two jets of the Indian Air Force. The IAF has denied the claim, saying all pilots are accounted for.
The IAF also said a Pakistani F-16 aircraft had crashed in the Lam Valley area along the Line of Control. An Indian Air Force chopper crashed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam this morning. Two bodies have been found, said the police.
Most airlines have tweeted to say they have received instructions to withhold flights to the designated airports.
Air Vistara tweeted that flights from Amritsar, Srinagar, Chandigarh and Jammu are on hold due to the airspace restrictions.
Punjab’s six border districts of Fazilka, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Amritsar have been on high alert since Tuesday.