Gulf shuts airspace, flight operations to Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait disrupted amid rising tensions
Flights from Mangaluru to gulf diverted
Mangaluru: Amidst tensions in the Middle East, an attack on a US air base in Qatar has resulted in the closure of Qatari and Bahraini airspace. This has affected flight operations from different airports across the country to the gulf nations.
Alongside the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait has also reportedly shut its airspace, and several international airlines have redrawn their flight paths. According to data from FlightRadar24 accessed by The Economic Times, multiple global carriers have altered flight paths across the Persian Gulf following US military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, causing widespread disruption to air travel across the region.
Flight tracking data revealed that airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel remained largely empty, as airlines sought alternative routes. The global aviation monitoring group Safe Airspace has warned of heightened risks due to missile and drone activity, posing serious threats to commercial flights, especially those operated by US carriers.
Operations to Gulf disrupted from Mangaluru airport
Flight services from Mangaluru to Gulf destinations have also been affected. Passengers have been advised to contact their respective airlines to confirm the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
An Air India Express flight bound for Dammam was diverted to Muscat. Meanwhile, an IndiGo flight headed for Abu Dhabi was rerouted and landed in Mumbai, sources confirmed.
A passenger aboard the Dammam-bound flight stated that the aircraft had landed in Muscat, but passengers were not allowed to disembark. "If permission is granted, we will disembark here. Otherwise, the aircraft may refuel and return to Mangaluru," the passenger told Varthabharati.
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Man held for rape, assault of elderly woman in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): A 20-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping and assaulting an 85-year-old woman and abandoning her on the roadside in this district, police said on Saturday.
The incident took place under Venjaramoodu police station limit on Wednesday evening.
Agin, a lottery agent, was apprehended on Friday, they said.
According to police, the elderly woman was taken into a deserted building by the accused, raped, brutally beaten with a stick, causing injuries, and was later abandoned on the roadside.
Locals noticed the woman with severe head and facial injuries and rushed her to a nearby hospital, from where she was shifted to the government medical college later.
Though initially injuries suggested that she was brutally beaten up by someone, a detailed medical examination confirmed the rape.
Based on the statement of the woman and some local vendors in the area, the police identified the accused and nabbed him later.
"As per the statement of his family, he is suspected of having a mental disorder and the habit of committing such assaults following an accident. An investigation is on," a police officer said.
He was remanded to judicial custody by a local court and the woman was discharged from hospital, police added.
