“Air India Flight to London Turns Back, 15 Others Diverted as Iran Shuts Airspace”

What Happened: Flight Turnback & Diversions

Air India Flight AIC129 Turns Back :

On June 13, 2025, Air India Flight AIC129 from Mumbai to London executed a mid-air U-turn and returned to Mumbai shortly after takeoff. The decision was made after Iran abruptly shut its entire airspace following Israeli strikes deep inside Iran, prompting immediate safety detours.

Broad Disruption – 15–16 Flights Affected

According to Flightradar24, at least 15 international flights, including ones bound for London, New York, Delhi, Washington, Toronto, and more, were forced to land at alternate airports or return to origin cities .

Geopolitical Trigger: Israel–Iran Escalation

• On June 13, Israel launched Operation “Rising Lion”, targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile factories, and key military leaders. The scale of the operation—reported to involve more than 200 fighter jets—prompted regional airspace disruptions across Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel .
• In response, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan immediately closed their airspace over concerns of military escalation and missile threats .

This sudden regional lockdown disrupted critical air corridors linking Asia to Europe and North America, leaving no prepared alternative flight paths.

Affected Flights: Routes & Reroutes

Across various credible outlets (Times of India, Business Standard, Hindustan Times), over 16 Air India flights faced mid-air reroutes or returns, including:

• AI130 (London→Mumbai) diverted to Vienna
• AI129 (Mumbai→London) returned to Mumbai
• AI102 (New York→Delhi) diverted to Sharjah
• AI116 (New York→Mumbai) diverted to Jeddah
• AI2018 (London→Delhi) rerouted to Mumbai
• Others: New York–Delhi, Vancouver–Delhi, Delhi–Washington, Chennai–Toronto, etc.

Air India confirmed this was taken “in view of passenger safety,” offering refunds, complimentary rebooking, alternative hotel arrangements, and ground transport via a formal travel advisory .

Timeline of Events

Broader Impact on Air Travel

Critical Air Corridors Severed

The closure of Iran, Iraq, and Jordan airspace disrupted flight paths historically vital for connecting Asia to Europe and North America—over 1,400 daily flights passed through Iranian airspace alone before this incident .

Safety Protocol Reinforced

Global aviation entities (e.g., OPSGroup’s Safe Airspace) recommended prioritizing passenger safety, prompting widespread reroutes across airlines like Emirates, Lufthansa, flydubai, Qatar Airways, and others.

Operational & Financial Fallout

• Airlines now rerouting via Central Asia or Gulf, incurring heavier fuel costs, increased crew rotations, and longer flight hours .
• Customers confronted with unexpected delays, cancellations, and refunding processes.

Air India’s Response & Passenger Relief Measures

• Travel advisory issued: included complete list of rerouted/returned flights
• Safety prioritized: immediate rerouting or return-to-origin orders
• Passenger-centric measures:
  • Full refunds, complimentary rebooking
  • Accommodation and transport for stranded guests
  • Support via helplines and airport assistance.

Risk Context: Why This Happens

• Military escalation risk: Open conflict raises potential for missile debris, unintentional targeting (e.g., MH17, UIA PS752) .
• Open alerts: Closures are precautionary measures to eliminate chance of civilian aircraft entering conflict zones. Tensions spiked after Israel’s large-scale strike on Iran’s military-infrastructure in Operation Rising Lion .

Historical Context & Industry Impacts

• Similar closures in April 2025 when Pakistan shut airspace, forcing reroutes to Copenhagen, Vienna, etc., causing delays of over 9–10 hours for transcontinental flights .
• Overreliance on a few corridors through Iran, Iraq, Jordan makes global airlines vulnerable to regional conflicts.

Outlook: What Comes Next?

1. Airspace Reopenings?
   • No official timetable from Iran, Iraq, or Jordan; closures will persist as long as risk remains. Airlines await NOTAMs (Notices to Air Missions) to resume normal routing.
2. Operational Adjustments
   • Airlines re-engineering routes via Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan), Gulf detours (via UAE, Saudi Arabia), adding hours and costs.
3. Passenger Compensation
   • Full compensatory policies amid canceled/delayed flights, including permits for free rescheduling as per Indian regulations.
4. Insurance & Risk Mitigation
   • Policies unlikely to cover airline-driven reroutes, but travel insurance may help with extended layovers.
5. Continued Volatility
   • With tit-for-tat escalation likely, further disruptions remain probable until lasting diplomatic measures or ceasefire is established.

Expert Views

• Aviation risk specialists suggest airlines should avoid zones near conflict lines; OPSGroup issued cautions at earliest sign of hostilities.
• Economists warn: Increased flight costs will likely translate into higher airfares or hurt profit margins across carriers.

In a Broader Lens: Geopolitics & Aviation

• The situation reveals how military operations in the Middle East ripple globally—affecting timelines, costs, crew logistics, passenger comfort, and airline revenues.
• Route diversification is now critical: relying on fewer global air corridors enhances risk during geopolitical tensions.

Final Takeaway

• Immediate effect: Mumbai→London flight made U-turn after Iran shut its skies; 15–16 other flights from Air India were diverted or returned as safety-first protocols kicked in.
• Root cause: Israel’s deep-strike Operation Rising Lion prompted a regional air – lockdown.
• Wider implications: Global aviation disruption, passenger inconvenience, and cost increases point to the fragility of current air-route dependencies.
• Moving forward: Airlines will monitor NOTAM updates, evaluate alternative routes via Central Asia/Gulf, and ensure swift passenger assistance.