IAF takes control of Srinagar Airport after Operation Sindoor; civilian flight operations suspended

An official said civilian air operations at Srinagar Airport were suspended indefinitely. Experts say that such a move signals a shift to elevated combat preparedness.

Srinagar: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday took operational control of the Srinagar Airport following the overnight missile strikes carried out by India on nine terror targets across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, triggering heightened tensions along the Line of Control (LoC).

An official said civilian air operations at Srinagar Airport were suspended indefinitely. Srinagar Airport is under the direct operational control of the IAF, which controls its air traffic and landing strip, and also the facilities for fire-fighting and crash activities, apart from the airspace.

“The situation is sensitive. The Indian Air Force is now fully managing all airspace operations from Srinagar,” he said. “This includes air traffic control, surveillance, and all air safety mechanisms.”

Experts say that such a move signals a shift to elevated combat preparedness. “Srinagar is not just a civilian airport; it is a strategic base,” they said. “In times of escalated military activity, especially after cross-border strikes, it’s natural for the Air Force to assert direct control to ensure airspace security.”

With no word yet on when civilian air operations will resume, passengers have been left in limbo, and the Valley watches anxiously for what comes next.

The missile strikes, conducted during the intervening night of May 6 and 7, have escalated military readiness in the region to near-combat levels. Security forces across the Kashmir Valley have been placed on high alert, with troops being mobilised and key installations fortified.

Though Srinagar city remains calm on the surface, a tense silence has taken hold.