At least 11 international flights have remained stranded at various airports across Pakistan for the past three days as the Middle East crisis continues to disrupt global aviation following the US-Israel strikes on Iran.
According to aviation sources, one foreign airline flight has been awaiting departure at Multan Airport, while two other international carriers remain grounded at Sialkot Airport. The prolonged grounding comes as regional airspace closures and retaliatory military actions have severely restricted flight operations across the Gulf.
Airspace over several Middle Eastern countries remains either closed or heavily restricted, including major transit hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. The disruption has triggered a global ripple effect, as these airports serve as critical connectors between Europe and Asia.
In response to the closures, overflying via Pakistani and Afghan airspace has surged dramatically. Data from global flight tracking platforms shows that multiple routes passing through Pakistan and Afghanistan have become among the busiest corridors worldwide, as airlines reroute to avoid restricted zones.
The crisis erupted after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, escalating tensions across the region. Tehran responded with missile attacks targeting Gulf states and Israel, intensifying uncertainty and forcing airlines to cancel or reroute flights.
The aviation industry is now grappling with aircraft and crew being stranded out of position, disrupted schedules, longer flight paths, and increased fuel costs. The loss of Iranian and Iraqi overflight routes which had already grown more critical after airlines began avoiding Russian and Ukrainian airspace has further squeezed available corridors.
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has maintained that Pakistani airspace remains fully operational and safe. However, industry experts warn that continued hostilities in the region could prolong disruptions, impacting passengers and airlines globally.
With key Middle Eastern hubs still facing restrictions, aviation officials say the situation remains fluid and dependent on geopolitical developments in the coming days.