ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has ‘rejected’ the reports regarding the closure of airspace and suspension of flight operations at Islamabad airport.
“The circulating news regarding the closure of Islamabad’s airspace is baseless. Islamabad airport is functioning as usual,” the PAA spokesperson said in a statement.
“Flight operations at Islamabad International Airport are continuing uninterrupted and flights are operating according to their schedules,” the authority wrote in a post on X.
پاکستان ایئرپورٹس اتھارٹی کی جانب سے وضاحت کی جاتی ہے کہ اسلام آباد کی فضائی حدود بند ہونے سے متعلق گردش کرنے والی خبریں بے بنیاد ہیں۔ اسلام آباد انٹرنیشنل ایئرپورٹ پر فلائٹ آپریشن بلا تعطل معمول کے مطابق جاری ہے اور تمام پروازیں اپنے شیڈول کے مطابق چل رہی ہیں۔
— Pakistan Airports Authority (@Pk_PAA_Official) March 13, 2026
Earlier, several reports circulating in the media claimed that the airport authority had suspended flight operations at Islamabad airport for a few hours.
However, the authority clarified that Islamabad airspace and airport operations are continuing and urged that the public should not pay attention to false news.
Two drones intercepted
Pakistan Air Force downed two rudimentary drones near Faizabad, an area adjacent to Rawalpindi, on Friday, security sources said.
Sources said that the Air Defence brought down loitering drones by electronic measures. The drones had possibly been launched from neighbouring Afghanistan, sources added.
No loss of life was reported, as the drones were intercepted before they could explode.
NOTAM issued
The Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) being circulated was actually issued on Thursday, directing that commercial flight operations at Islamabad International Airport will be temporarily suspended on Thursday night, reportedly due to a scheduled flypast rehearsal for Pakistan Day celebrations on March 23.
The notice was falsely linked to the recent rumors, which went viral on Thursday evening. The reports of the closure of flight operations circulated before the time mentioned in NOTAM.
Due to operational reasons, flight operations at Islamabad International Airport will be suspended from 10 am to 1:15 am, according to the NOTAM.
According to airport sources, during the rehearsal drills, all take-offs and landings at Islamabad airport will be halted.
