Sialkot International Airport has clarified reports claiming that a Qatar Airways flight from Doha landed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Airport spokesperson Umair Khan confirmed on Monday that the aircraft arrived safely at Sialkot airport on the morning of September 27.
According to the spokesperson, the same flight later departed for Doha exactly on its scheduled time. He explained that the plane appeared at an incorrect location on the FlightRadar24 tracking website because of a technical issue and inaccurate GPS data.
Khan stressed that the flight from Doha landed at Sialkot International Airport and nowhere else. He added that the landing can also be verified through the official radar system of the Pakistan Airports Authority. This official confirmation has put an end to the confusion created by the faulty tracking information.
Pakistan’s airspace remains closed to all Indian-registered aircraft and any planes operated or leased by Indian airlines, including military flights. The restriction was first imposed on April 23, 2025, and has been extended several times since then.
Islamabad introduced the ban after New Delhi suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the deadly Pahalgam attack in IIOJK. India accused Pakistan of involvement in that attack, a claim Islamabad has firmly rejected while calling for an independent and transparent investigation.
In response, India closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30 last year. Officials note that these airspace restrictions have created far greater financial pressure on India’s aviation sector, while Pakistan’s aviation industry has faced comparatively limited disruption.
Pakistan has used similar airspace measures in the past, including during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis. In both earlier cases, Indian airlines experienced more operational difficulties than their Pakistani counterparts.
The latest clarification from Sialkot airport once again highlights the importance of relying on official sources rather than third-party tracking websites that can sometimes display incorrect data. Passengers and the public can rest assured that the Qatar Airways flight followed its proper route and completed its journey as planned through Pakistani airspace and airports.
