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Azerbaijan Closes Part of Southern Airspace for 12 Hours After Iranian Drone Attack
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Azerbaijan closed part of its southern airspace for 12 hours after saying four Iranian drones crossed its border, according to The Times of Israel on March 5.
The closure was issued by NOTAM , the standard notice pilots and airlines use to learn what airspace is restricted. The update did not say which corridors were shut.
It described the closure as temporary and linked it to the drone incursion, as reports also said Iranian missile and drone strikes hit Nakhchivan International Airport in Azerbaijan’s exclave.
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Ukraine closed its airspace after the invasion began
Europe watched this play out in real time when Ukraine’s skies went quiet on February 24, 2022. Hours after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukraine closed its entire airspace to civil aviation, and it remains closed to commercial flights. Airlines immediately stopped overflights and diverted around the country’s flight information regions.
Russia’s air travel is in constant turbulence
Russia began restricting civilian air routes near Ukraine on February 22, 2022, and widened closures on February 24 as the invasion began.
It marked long border danger zones and repeatedly paused flights at southern hubs, framing the moves as safety measures during military activity and air-defense operations.
For travelers, these stop-start restrictions now mean constant delays: aircraft diverted or held on the ground, crews reshuffled, and schedules broken when drones or alerts trigger sudden closures.
Middle East airspace closures ripple through civil aviation
In recent days, airspace closures have spread across the Middle East as fighting between the US, Israel, and Iran disrupted civilian aviation, according to Reuters on March 5.
Israel shut its airspace when the fighting began and later allowed limited reopening. Jordan also issued temporary closures, and airlines rerouted around restricted corridors.
Earlier, Iran launched ballistic missiles at the UAE, with interceptions reported over Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and debris causing at least one death.
The strikes were described as targeting Al Dhafra Air Base and prompting partial airspace restrictions and flight disruptions at major UAE airports.
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