Manchester-bound IndiGo flight turns back to Delhi mid-air after 7 hours due to West Asia airspace curbs

The Delhi to Manchester route had only recently resumed operations. Monday’s flight was among the first services on the route since February 26. (File image used for representation.)

An IndiGo Delhi-Manchester flight returned to Delhi after seven hours due to sudden airspace restrictions linked to the West Asia conflict. The airline cited evolving advisories and is working with authorities to possibly resume the journey. Safety remains a priority.

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An IndiGo flight operating between Delhi and Manchester was forced to return to the national capital after spending nearly seven hours in the air due to sudden airspace restrictions linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

The aircraft, operating as flight 6E33, had taken off from Delhi early Monday morning and was scheduled to reach Manchester in roughly 11 hours under normal flight conditions. However, the aircraft eventually turned back while flying near the Ethiopia–Eritrea border, according to flight tracking platform Flightradar24.

The development was first flagged by Flightradar24 in a post on X, which also shared tracking data showing the aircraft reversing course and heading back toward India.

Flight reversed course after long diversion

Flight tracking data indicates that the aircraft had already travelled for about seven hours before making the decision to return. The plane had followed a longer and less conventional route that avoided much of the Middle East.

According to Flightradar24, the aircraft flew southwards from India toward the Gulf of Aden before continuing along parts of the African coastline in an effort to bypass active conflict zones in West Asia.

IndiGo flight 6E33 (operated by Norse) made a U-turn on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea and is returning to Delhi. This was the first IndiGo Delhi - Manchester flight since the 26th of Feb. pic.twitter.com/McCeAUd2tS

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 9, 2026

Despite this precautionary routing, the aircraft was forced to abort the journey as airspace restrictions in the region continued to evolve.

The diversion highlights how rapidly changing aviation advisories and airspace closures across parts of West Asia are affecting long-haul flight operations.

Airline cites last-minute airspace restrictions

IndiGo confirmed that the aircraft was instructed to return due to new airspace restrictions imposed while the flight was already underway.

"Due to the evolving situation in and around the Middle East, some of our flights may take longer routes or experience diversions. Our flight 6E 033 operating from Delhi to Manchester had to return to its origin due to last minute airspace restrictions, owing to the ongoing situation in West Asia," an IndiGo spokesperson said in a statement.

The airline said it is assessing whether the flight can resume once the situation becomes clearer.

"We are working with the relevant authorities to explore the possibilities of resuming the journey. As always, safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft is of utmost importance to us," the spokesperson added.

Route had recently resumed

The Delhi to Manchester route had only recently resumed operations. Monday’s flight was among the first services on the route since February 26.

Under normal circumstances, the journey covers roughly 6,829 kilometres, with an average flight duration of about 11 hours, according to data from Flightradar24.

However, airlines have increasingly been forced to modify flight paths to avoid areas affected by military activity or airspace closures.

Middle East conflict affecting aviation

The disruption comes amid a rapidly escalating conflict in West Asia.

The war began after the United States and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran subsequently launched retaliatory attacks targeting Israel as well as US military installations in several Gulf countries.

The widening conflict has already affected commercial aviation routes across the region, forcing airlines to reroute flights and avoid large portions of Middle Eastern airspace.

For long-haul flights connecting Asia and Europe, the developments are creating new operational challenges as carriers attempt to navigate shifting security advisories while maintaining safe travel corridors.