Iran-Israel Conflict: 400+ flights cancelled in India, hundreds of passengers left stranded

India’s aviation sector has been plunged into a state of emergency as the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that over 444 international flights were cancelled on Sunday, March 1, 2026. 

The massive disruption comes after a surge in military hostilities in the Middle East, leading to the closure of critical air corridors over Iran, Iraq, and parts of the Gulf countries.

Major hubs, including Delhi’s IGI, Mumbai’s CSMIA, and Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), reported scenes of significant distress as thousands of passengers found themselves stranded with little to no prior notice.

In a post on X, the MoCA stated



that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is in complete coordination with all concerned airlines to ensure passenger safety and operational regulations.

"Due to airspace restrictions over Iran and parts of the Middle East, 410 flights of domestic carriers were cancelled on 28 February, and 444 flights are expected to be cancelled on 1 March. DGCA is maintaining close coordination with airlines to ensure full compliance with safety and operational regulations," the post read.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an urgent safety advisory, valid through March 2, prompting domestic carriers to suspend nearly all westbound operations.