Amid Indo-Pak tension, Beijing cancels all flights to, from Pakistan
China has canceled all flights to and from Pakistan and rerouted its international aircraft flying over the Pakistani airspace due to the regional tensions, official media in Beijing reported today. The closure of Pakistan's airspace in response to escalating tensions with India disrupted major routes between Europe and South East Asia and left thousands of air travelers stranded worldwide. Here's more.
Flights have to re-route over India, Myanmar to enter China
Flights from the Middle East that usually overfly Pakistan and the Pakistan-India border will have to re-route over India, Myanmar or central Asia to enter China. The Beijing Capital International Airport canceled all flights to and from Pakistan on Wednesday and Thursday, including connecting flights, according to a statement sent to the Global Times by the North China Air Traffic Management Bureau.
22 flights fly in, out of Pakistan every week: Bureau
Whether those flights will fly on Friday as scheduled is still unknown, state-run Global Times reported. The bureau said that 22 flights fly in and out of Pakistan every week, including two from Air China and other flights from Pakistan International Airlines.
The administration immediately launched emergency plan to deal with flights
China is taking positive measures to deal with international flights after Pakistan shut down its airspace, opening part of Chinese airspace for foreign airlines to re-route. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) immediately launched an emergency plan to notify domestic flight companies and cooperate with the air force to ensure the safety of flights and approve temporary flight plans.
CAAC reminded passengers to check flight information before making plans
Flights to Pakistan have undergone major changes in recent days and the CAAC reminded passengers to check flight information before they make plans, the statement said. According to the reports from Pakistan, the airspace in the country was closed on Thursday as well. All international and domestic commercial flights flying in and out of Pakistan were canceled until further notice, it stated.
CAAC opened parts of China's airspace for foreign airlines
Civilian aviation experts told Global Times that flights from the Middle East that usually overfly Pakistan and the Pakistan-India border will have to re-route over India, Myanmar or central Asia to enter China. Meanwhile, at the request of the International Civil Aviation Organization, the CAAC opened part of China's airspace and air routes for foreign airlines to re-route, China National Radio reported.
Tensions escalated between India-Pak after Pulwama attack on February 14
As of 10 pm yesterday, 28 domestic airlines affected by the closure of Pakistani airspace adjusted flight plans and 49 foreign flights used Chinese airspace to re-route, the report by country's national radio further stated. Pakistan closed its airspace after tensions escalated with India in the wake of the Pulwama attack on February 14 by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
Balakot facility was headed by Masood's brother-in-law Yousuf Azhar
Following the attack, India carried out air strikes against the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot. In the operation, a "very large number" of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for suicide attacks were eliminated. The facility at Balakot was headed by Yousuf Azhar, the brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar.
Releasing the IAF pilot as a gesture of goodwill: Khan
Pakistan on Wednesday claimed it shot down two Indian fighter jets over Pakistani air space and arrested a pilot. Later, the country's Prime Minister, Imran Khan said that Pakistan will release the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot today as a goodwill gesture.
