.
Airspace. Photo: (file)
LAHORE:
Pakistan’s air traffic control averted a potential disaster by preventing 30 passenger aircraft from entering Iran’s war-zone airspace after they were pushed off course by severe weather, according to aviation sources on Thursday.
The aircraft had come dangerously close to the Iranian border as deteriorating weather conditions disrupted flight paths, with several planes drifting towards restricted airspace that remains closed due to ongoing conflict.
Officials said air traffic controllers in the Karachi Flight Information Region acted promptly, guiding multiple international flights and ensuring they did not cross into the hazardous zone.
Most of the aircraft were operating near the western sector route from Kalat to Panjgur and Gwadar, where weather conditions had turned extremely severe, affecting navigation and control.
Sources said pilots repeatedly informed control towers that they were unable to proceed along their assigned routes due to adverse weather, with many flights converging towards Panjgur and coming under increased threat.
Despite repeated attempts, no response was received from Tehran Air Traffic Control, officials added, complicating coordination in the region.
