E-Paper
Sign In
Air India dismisses fake viral claim about flying over restricted Middle East airspace
Flight routes follow real‑time intelligence, global advisories, and continuous monitoring to ensure every journey remains safe, compliant, and reliable
- PUBLISHED: Thu 5 Mar 2026, 1:56 PM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid Israeli, US strikes on Iran for the latest regional developments.]
Air India categorically denied on Thursday a fake report with viral images, claiming on social media that its aircraft had flown over restricted airspace in the Middle East amid US-Israel-Iran war.
Recommended For You
Warning against such fake news, the airline issued a fact check through a post on X: “Air India does not operate flights over any restricted airspace.” Pointing out that viral flight tracking images circulating on social media are incorrect, it added that “flight routes are planned using real‑time intelligence, global advisories, and continuous monitoring to ensure every journey remains safe, compliant, and reliable."
The viral images do not reflect the airline's actual flight operations or safety protocols. “These operational decisions underline Air India’s firm commitment to prioritising the safety and security of passengers and crew above everything else,” the airline added.
Its update on flight operations said the airline will begin scheduled operations to and from Jeddah to Delhi and Mumbai from Thursday. It will also operate three additional flights to Toronto, Frankfurt, and Paris from Thursday.
The Tata group-owned airline, which operates services to North America from India, has introduced technical halts at Rome and Vienna for refuelling, before continuing with its transatlantic operations. It has also prioritised flights to London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris and New York to ensure onward connectivity options for passengers.
