ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Saturday announced that flight operations at Islamabad International Airport will remain temporarily suspended on Monday, March 16.
According to a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), six sectors of the Lahore Flight Information Region will remain temporarily closed.
During the closure, commercial flights will be unable to land or take off at Islamabad airport from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
“During this time, flights already in the air will have to wait before landing at Islamabad Airport,” the NOTAM added. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates, while aircraft captains have been instructed to carry additional fuel.
Due to operational reasons, flight operations at Islamabad International Airport will remain temporarily suspended on 16 March 2026 from 08:30 AM to 10:30 AM (PKT). Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates.
— Pakistan Airports Authority (@Pk_PAA_Official) March 14, 2026
PAA ‘rejects’ closure of airspace
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Friday 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.
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.
