A British Airways flight from Chennai to London was forced to return mid-air on Sunday morning after Iranian authorities closed their airspace in the wake of reported US military strikes on nuclear sites in Iran.

Flight BA36, originally scheduled to depart at 5:35 AM IST on June 22, took off around 6:24 AM with 206 passengers on board. Shortly after entering international airspace over the Arabian Sea, pilots received information about Iran’s sudden airspace closure due to escalating regional tensions.

As a precaution, the crew made the decision to turn the aircraft around and contacted Chennai air traffic control. The plane landed safely back at Chennai Airport at 8:50 AM and was moved to a parking bay by 9:20 AM. British Airways confirmed that the decision to return was made out of “an abundance of caution.”

Passengers were deboarded and provided refreshments at the terminal. Airport officials stated that the aircraft would be refueled and expected to depart again by 10:30 AM with a revised flight path that avoids Iranian airspace.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia following US airstrikes in Iran. The closure of Iranian airspace disrupted several international flight schedules from Chennai. A Kuwait Airways flight, originally set to depart at 3:30 AM, was delayed by over two hours and finally took off at 5:40 AM. Flights to Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi were also impacted, with delays ranging from 60 to 90 minutes.

Airport authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and airlines are coordinating with aviation authorities to ensure passenger safety and adjust flight paths accordingly.

With geopolitical uncertainty affecting air routes, passengers are advised to stay updated on flight status and advisories from their respective airlines.

(With inputs from PTI)