Air traffic over Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan ground to a halt on Friday after Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on targets inside Iran, prompting widespread flight diversions, cancellations, and delays, according to data from Flightradar24. Major carriers acted quickly to reroute planes and protect passengers and crew amid escalating regional tensions.
Israel stated that the strikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites, ballistic missile facilities, and military leadership as part of what it described as a longer campaign to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
In response, Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport was shut down indefinitely, and its air defense forces were placed on high alert amid fears of Iranian retaliation, according to AlArabiya.
Iran closed its airspace until further notice, as confirmed by state media and international aviation notices. Iraq and Jordan also followed suit, closing their skies due to safety concerns, disrupting some of the busiest east-west air corridors used by flights between Asia, the Gulf, and Europe.
Dubai Airports confirmed significant disruptions at both Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC), with several flights delayed or canceled. “Dubai Airports is working with airlines and service partners to minimize inconvenience,” a spokesperson said, urging travelers to check with their airlines and allow extra time at the airport.
Multiple airlines took immediate precautions:
- Emirates diverted flights mid-air, including a Manchester-Dubai flight to Istanbul.
- flydubai suspended service to Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Iran, and Israel, and diverted or canceled several other routes.
- Air India rerouted or turned back flights from New York, Vancouver, Chicago, and London.
- Lufthansa halted operations to Tehran and announced avoidance of Iranian, Iraqi, and Israeli airspace.
- Qatar Airways canceled flights to both Iran and Iraq.
- Wizz Air suspended Tel Aviv flights and rerouted flights through alternative corridors for at least 72 hours.
- Air France suspended Tel Aviv flights “until further notice.”
- Romania’s national carrier canceled all flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Amman through June 16.
- In Cyprus, Larnaca and Paphos airports received at least 32 diverted flights from the Middle East by Friday morning, though officials noted the number of new diversion requests had slowed by midday.
- Syria also closed its airspace temporarily until Friday afternoon, with officials citing the need for civil aviation safety amid unfolding developments.
Aviation risk group Safe Airspace warned that the situation was “still emerging” and urged operators to exercise extreme caution in the region.
Historical incidents such as the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014 and Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 in 2020 underscore the potential dangers of conflict zones for civilian aircraft.
According to Osprey Flight Solutions, since 2001, six commercial planes have been unintentionally shot down and three others narrowly escaped similar fates—highlighting the growing challenge global carriers face as conflict zones expand and proliferate.
As of last year, about 1,400 flights traversed Middle East airspace daily, according to Eurocontrol, illustrating the scale of disruption that regional conflict can impose on global aviation.
Flight tracking data now shows rerouted paths veering over Central Asia and Saudi Arabia, as the aviation world scrambles to adapt to a dramatically shifting regional map.
