KARACHI: Pakistan’s air traffic control successfully prevented 30 passenger planes from inadvertently entering a war zone in Iranian airspace amid severe weather conditions.
According to the Pakistan Airport Authority, the aircraft were approaching Iran’s restricted airspace when timely intervention by Karachi Flight Information Region controllers guided them to safety, averting a potential disaster. Many planes were affected by bad weather near the Iran border, and without prompt action, they could have strayed into the war zone.
Despite repeated attempts, Tehran Air Traffic Control did not respond, making the Pakistani controllers’ role even more critical. Flights arriving from and departing to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and other countries were safely redirected under the controllers’ guidance.
The affected route spans from West Qalat to Panjgur and Gwadar, where weather conditions had deteriorated severely, causing aircraft to lose control and drift toward Iranian airspace. The war zone closure in Iran made this especially dangerous.
Karachi’s air traffic controllers acted professionally and decisively, ensuring that all planes returned safely to their designated routes without entering the restricted zone. Pilots had reported difficulties navigating through the storm, but with expert guidance, a major incident was successfully averted.
