Islamabad airport halts flights for Pakistan Day rehearsal
“Islamabad airport temporarily suspended commercial flights for a Pakistan Day flypast rehearsal, causing short-term disruption to schedules.”
Key points
- Islamabad airport temporarily suspended commercial flights for a Pakistan Day flypast rehearsal, causing short-term disruption to schedules.
- Authorities said operations would resume after the exercise window ended.
Commercial flight operations at Islamabad International Airport were temporarily suspended on Thursday because of a scheduled flypast rehearsal for Pakistan Day celebrations. The Pakistan Airports Authority issued the restriction as part of preparations for the March 23 event.
ProPakistani reported that take-offs and landings were halted during the late-morning rehearsal window, with airport authorities also warning of temporary disruptions in certain routes within the Lahore Flight Information Region. Airlines were advised that schedules could be affected during the exercise.
The restrictions also created knock-on effects beyond Islamabad. A Karachi-to-Islamabad flight operated by a private airline was held back due to the temporary closure, while airport officials said normal departures would resume once operations in the capital were restored.
Officials described the suspension as part of routine national event preparations rather than a broader shutdown. Even so, the episode briefly affected domestic aviation planning and highlighted how ceremonial air exercises can disrupt commercial traffic.
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