Flights to and from several airports in northern India have been suspended due to suspected drone activity along the International Border (IB) in Jammu’s Samba district and Punjab’s Jalandhar. Air India and IndiGo have cancelled flights to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot, citing passenger safety. The Indian Army confirmed that suspected drones were spotted late Monday near Samba and Jalandhar, but stated that the situation is now calm and under control.
The airports that have been affected were reopened for civilian flights on Monday after being temporarily shut due to the military conflict between India and Pakistan. Military officials have emphasized that there is no need for alarm and that the situation is being closely monitored. As a precaution, several areas in Jammu, Kathua, Rajouri, and Samba experienced blackouts, and lights at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and along its pilgrimage track were switched off.
The spike in drone activity and tension comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national address following Operation Sindoor, and a meeting between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan. A senior official in Jalandhar confirmed that security forces had successfully neutralised a suspected surveillance drone.
Both Air India and IndiGo have issued statements assuring passengers that they are monitoring the situation and will keep them updated. The airlines have also apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the flight cancellations. The situation is being closely watched, and passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates on flight operations.
The Indian Army has stated that a small number of suspected drones were observed near Samba and are being engaged. The army has also assured that no enemy drones are being reported at present. The situation is being closely monitored, and security forces are on high alert to prevent any further incidents. The flight cancellations are a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers, and normal flight operations are expected to resume once the situation returns to normal.