DGCA Issues Airspace Avoidance Guidelines for 11 High-Risk Countries Amid Middle East Crisis

New Delhi, March 20 (TNA) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued fresh guidelines directing Indian airlines to avoid the airspace of 11 countries in the Middle East and Persian Gulf regions until at least March 2 (with ongoing reviews), citing heightened risks from US-Israel military strikes on Iran and retaliatory actions.

The affected Flight Information Regions include Tehran (Iran), Tel Aviv (Israel), Beirut (Lebanon), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Bahrain, Muscat (Oman), Baghdad (Iraq), Amman (Jordan), Kuwait, UAE, and Doha (Qatar), where air defense systems, missiles, and military assets pose spillover threats to civil aviation.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu convened a high-level review meeting with airlines, airport operators, DGCA, and Airports Authority of India, emphasising passenger safety as paramount and mandating timely flight rerouting per safety protocols amid disruptions from the West Asia escalation.

Major Indian airports are on high alert for potential diversions, with close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs to support stranded nationals; airlines must monitor NOTAMs and AIPs continuously. The advisory underscores operational errors like the misidentification of civilian aircraft as critical hazards in the volatile zones.