Mumbai-London Air India Flight Turns Back Mid-Air Amid Iran-Israel Tensions; Dozens Of Air India Flights To Reroute Or Return
Mumbai, 13th June 2025: Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have severely disrupted international air travel, with multiple Air India flights being diverted or forced to return mid-air. On Friday (13th June), an Air India flight from Mumbai to London was in the air for nearly three hours before being ordered to return to Mumbai.
According to data cited by news agency PTI from flight tracking service ‘Flightradar24’, the flight AI129 had departed Mumbai at 5:39 am en route to London Heathrow but was unable to proceed due to restricted airspace over Iran, which has been closed following military escalations.
In an official statement, Air India confirmed that several of its international flights have been rerouted or grounded as a direct consequence of Iran closing its airspace. The situation stems from military strikes launched by Israel early Friday as part of “Operation Rising Lion,” reportedly targeting nuclear facilities in Iran.
The closure of Iranian airspace, announced by Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority, has triggered widespread rerouting of flights. In response, Air India has taken immediate measures to either divert flights to alternative airports or return them to their point of origin.
Some of the affected flights include:
– AI130 (London Heathrow–Mumbai): Diverted to Vienna
– AI102 (New York–Delhi): Diverted to Sharjah
– AI116 (New York–Mumbai): Diverted to Jeddah
– AI2018 (London Heathrow–Delhi): Diverted to Mumbai
– AI129 (Mumbai–London Heathrow): Returned to Mumbai
– AI119 (Mumbai–New York): Returned to Mumbai
– AI103 (Delhi–Washington): Returned to Delhi
– AI106 (Newark–Delhi): Diverted to Vienna
– AI188 (Vancouver–Delhi): Diverted to Jeddah
– AI101 (Delhi–New York): Diverted to Frankfurt/Milan
– AI126 (Chicago–Delhi): Diverted to Jeddah
– AI132 (London Heathrow–Bengaluru): Diverted to Sharjah
– AI2016 (London Heathrow–Delhi): Diverted to Vienna
– AI104 (Washington–Delhi): Diverted to Vienna
– AI190 (Toronto–Delhi): Diverted to Frankfurt
– AI189 (Delhi–Toronto): Returned to Delhi
Air India issued a public apology for the disruption and inconvenience caused to passengers. “We sincerely regret the unexpected inconvenience to our passengers and are doing everything possible to minimize the impact. This includes providing accommodations and arranging alternative travel plans to ensure passengers reach their destinations,” the airline said.
Meanwhile, Israel has reportedly shut down its northern and southern airspaces and increased emergency preparedness in light of the evolving situation.
