21/06/2025
Being at the Right Place at the Wrong Time
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In one of my posts last week, I highlighted the advantage of geography Iran has which positioned it at the near centre of the world.
That's why its airspace accommodated far more civil aviation routes than other countries of the region. With the airspace shut, pilots are navigating what looks like roundabouts to continue their journeys.
All these necessary rigmaroling would reflect on your airfares very soon, whether you are flying through that route or not because airlines need to offset unintended costs. That's how stewpid irresponsible wars affect everyone regardless.
Imagine being in an airplane that stopped over in Tehran for refuelling, or to pick passengers for its next leg only to be caught in the bombings and closures of airspaces.
An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER is currently stranded in Iran. On June 13, Emirates operated its typical early morning flight from Dubai to Tehran, within the short time the plane spent on the ground, Israel fired missiles at Iran, and Iran closed its airspace.
Equally stranded are three Pegasus Airlines Airbus A320neo/A321neo aircraft, are currently stuck at Tehran’s main international airport. Two of the Turkish carrier's other aircraft are also on the ground at airports elsewhere in Iran.
The four non-domestic airlines’ aircraft have been on the ground in Tehran, Iran, since June 13th, when Israel opened with a barrage of rockets, as well as drones launched from inside Iran, against targets within the country. Emirates has since suspended flights to and from Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon.
So far, no strikes have been reported at the airport. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have, however, targeted Tehran’s other airport, Mehrabad International (THR). In doing so, they struck two Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) Grumman F-14 Tomcat fighter jets that were located at the airport.
Additional strikes have also been reported at Tabriz International Airport (TBZ), with the BBC, using satellite imagery, confirming that, on June 14th, the IDF targeted the airport in Northern Iran.
Fearing reprisal attacks on their airports, Israeli national carrier El Al Airlines has flown substantial numbers of their fleet to Cyprus.
With airspaces shut down many Israelis are sheltering in Cyprus, both those escaping from Israel and those returning. The number swelled to 6,500 Israelis as of yesterday.
Cyprus has become a key transit point for the repatriation of third-country nationals fleeing conflict areas in the region, as well as Israelis and others wishing to return home in the absence of direct flights there.
Flightradar24 show that another Pegasus Airlines aircraft, an A320neo, registered as TC-NCP, is located at the airport. Images, later shared on social media, showed damage to the runway in Tabriz.
Reports say another Pegasus Airlines A320neo, registered as TC-NCA, is also currently at Shiraz International Airport (SYZ). While there has not been a report about potential strikes at the airport, the IDF has attacked the city itself.
Foreign airlines’ aircraft that are currently parked in Iran are about six: an Emirates 777-300ER and five Pegasus Airlines’ A320neo/A321neo jets in Shiraz, Tabriz, and Tehran.
The airspaces over Israel and Iran have been closed since June 13th. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has since issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) about the airspace over the two countries.
This warns that the ongoing tit-for-tat military operations “pose high risk not only to the airspace of Iran and Israel but also to that of neighbouring States affected by the hostilities and associated military activities, including interceptions.”
As such, the European agency recommended EASA-regulated and third-country operators (TCOs) “not to operate within the affected airspace at all flight levels.”
This flight radar map would definitely change into something sparser from last night as there are indications that the war has entered into its second level as Iran claimed it has started deployment of its advanced Cruise and Hypersonic missiles especially with the rates it is hitting specific targets in Israel.
Cruise missiles are typically supersonic, and fly at lower altitudes, and are easily intercepted by advanced interceptors. But hypersonic missiles are a different family of beasts. They travel at speeds of Mach 5 or greater and can maneuver during flight, making them harder to intercept.
Being at the right place at the wrong time is bad. But at the wrong place at the wrong time is worse.
©️ Kelechi Deca
