Pakistan closes airspace as India tensions rise: aviation authority

Indian soldiers and Kashmiri onlookers stand near the remains of an Indian Air Force helicopter after it crashed in Budgam district, outside Srinagar on February 27, 2019.  AFP

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan closed its airspace Wednesday, the civil aviation authority and the military said, as fears spiked of an all-out conflict with nuclear-armed neighbor India.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) tweeted that it “has officially closed its airspace until further notice,” while a Pakistani military spokesman said the decision had been taken “due to the environment.”

A CAA source told AFP that all airlines had been notified to “suspend their operations in Pakistan until further notice.”

The decision came after Pakistan said it had shot down two Indian Air Force planes in its airspace Wednesday, taking tensions between the South Asian rivals to dangerous new levels.

Pakistan said it had captured two Indian pilots, with one in hospital.

At least five Indian airports were also closed and scores of flights were being canceled, aviation authorities there said on condition of anonymity.

The Aviation Authority of India did not immediately respond to requests for official comment. /ee