SIALKOT: Sialkot International Airport has clarified reports suggesting that a Qatar Airways flight arriving from Doha had landed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), saying the aircraft actually landed at Sialkot airport.
Airport spokesperson Umair Khan said the flight from Doha arrived at Sialkot International Airport on the morning of September 27 and later departed for Doha at its scheduled time.
FlightRadar24 data blamed for incorrect location
According to Khan, the aircraft was displayed at an incorrect location on FlightRadar24 because of a technical issue and inaccurate GPS information.
He said the flight’s arrival at Sialkot could also be independently verified through the radar system operated by the Pakistan Airports Authority.
The clarification came after flight-tracking data appeared to show the aircraft at a location in IIOJK, prompting questions on social media about its reported destination.
The airport spokesperson reiterated that the Qatar Airways flight landed at Sialkot International Airport and subsequently returned to Doha according to its scheduled operation.
Pakistan’s airspace restrictions on Indian aircraft
The clarification comes amid continued airspace restrictions between Pakistan and India.
Pakistan has barred all Indian-registered aircraft, as well as aircraft operated or leased by Indian airlines and operators, from using its airspace. The restrictions also cover military flights.
The ban was first imposed on April 23, 2025, and has since been extended several times.
Islamabad announced the restrictions after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the deadly Pahalgam attack in IIOJK. India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, a claim Islamabad has rejected while calling for an independent and transparent investigation.
Delta flight makes emergency landing in Portugal after cabin fills with smoke
India subsequently closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, 2025.
The continuing restrictions have affected airlines operating between the two countries and have altered regional flight routes.
Pakistan has imposed similar airspace restrictions during previous periods of heightened tensions, including the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis.
