Three Dhaka-bound int'l flights diverted

At least three international flights en route to Bangladesh were diverted to different countries at midnight due to heightened airspace security concern following missile strikes near the India-Pakistan border.

Group Captain Muhammed Kamrul Islam, executive director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka, confirmed the update, saying the civilian aircraft were advised to avoid the affected airspace.

Among the three, Dhaka-bound Turkish Airlines' flight TK 712/713 made an unscheduled landing in Muscat, and Jazeera Airways flight 531/532 was diverted to Dubai, while another flight of the airlines 533/534 returned to Kuwait.

However, airport officials stated that the diverted flights left for Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Wednesday morning as air traffic gradually resumed along adjusted routes.

Meanwhile, all the flights including dedicated hajj flights of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines have also been advised to avoid Pakistani airspace amid the fighting between India and Pakistan.

ABM Raoshan Kabir, general manager (public relations) of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines, told the FE that Biman flights en route to Middle East and European countries are avoiding Pakistani airspace since Wednesday morning due to the security reasons.

The flights of Biman are reaching their destinations using airspace of India, Gulf of Oman and United Arab Emirates (UAE), the official further said.

He said a total of 1,775 hajj pilgrims left the country for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday through three flights of Biman and two flights of Saudia Airlines.

India attacked Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir and Pakistan said it had shot down five Indian fighter jets in the worst fighting in more than two decades between the nuclear-armed enemies.

More than two dozen international flights were diverted to avoid Pakistan airspace. By Wednesday morning local time, airlines had cancelled 52 flights to or from Pakistan, according to FlightRadar24.

There were 57 international flights operating in Pakistan's airspace when India struck, according to a Pakistan army spokesperson.

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