An Azerbaijani cargo flight headed to Colombo was forced to take a long detour after India denied access to its airspace. The plane, operated by flight ZP 4771, had made an emergency landing in Karachi on September 23 due to a technical fault while en route from Baku to Chennai. After five days of repairs under foreign supervision, the aircraft was ready to fly again — this time, to Colombo instead of Chennai.
However, Indian authorities reportedly refused to allow the plane into their airspace. This forced the aircraft to reroute in the opposite direction, entering Iranian airspace via Gwadar. It then passed over Dubai and Muscat, before flying across the Arabian Sea and reaching Colombo via the Maldives. The unusual route added over four hours to a journey that normally takes just three.
Read more: Pakistan extends airspace ban on India until October 23
In total, the cargo flight took more than seven hours to reach Sri Lanka from Karachi — more than double the usual time. No official reason has been provided for India’s decision to block access. However, some reports suggest heightened tensions following India’s recent military losses may have influenced the move.
The incident has raised eyebrows, especially considering that many international airlines use Pakistan’s airspace for routes into India. Observers say the decision reflects growing unease in New Delhi, even in matters not directly linked to security threats.
This development also highlights the increasing geopolitical sensitivity in South Asia’s aviation corridors. As of now, there is no confirmation from Indian authorities regarding the rationale behind their airspace denial.