Commercial flights to Jammu, Srinagar and Leh have been put on hold.
Highlights
- Eight airports in the country have been shut down
- List includes airports in Amritsar and others all close to the border
- Move comes after IAF chopper crashed in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam
The order to shut down nine airports over the northern states of Jammua and Kashmir, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh has been withdrawn. Flight operations have already resumed from some airports, including Jammu.
A spokesperson of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation told news agency PTI, "As of now, ops to these airports resumed (sic)."
The order for shut down was issued a short while ago amid an escalation of hostilities with Pakistan. Sources had said the entire airspace north of Delhi had to be vacated. The list of airports included Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar and Leh, Kullu-Manali, Kangra, Shimla, Pathankot and Pithoragarh.
The area has been on high alert amid Pakistan's warnings of retaliation after India's fighter jets crossed the Line of Control yesterday and destroyed a vast terror camp within Pakistan in a pre-dawn strike.
Following the Indian airstrike yesterday, Pakistan started heavy shelling and firing from across the border. It has also stopped flights from Islamabad and Lahore.
This morning, there were reports of Pakistani fighter jets violating Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri sectors. Pakistan has also claimed it had shot down two jets of the Indian Air Force. The IAF has denied the claim, saying all pilots are accounted for.
The IAF also said a Pakistani F-16 aircraft had crashed in the Lam Valley area along the Line of Control.
An Indian Air Force chopper crashed in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam this morning. Two bodies have been found, said the police.
Most airlines have tweeted to say they have received instructions to withhold flights to the designated airports.
Air Vistara tweeted that flights from Amritsar, Srinagar, Chandigarh and Jammu are on hold due to the airspace restrictions.
Jet Airways said that in "line with the instructions received from Delhi ATC regarding airport closure Jet Airways flight operations to and from Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar and Leh have been suspended until further notice".
Punjab's six border districts of Fazilka, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Amritsar have been on high alert since Tuesday.