Flight operations at Islamabad International Airport were briefly disrupted on Friday after a suspected drone was spotted in the capital’s airspace, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend departures over security concerns, 24NewsHD TV reported.
According to reports, all outgoing flights from Islamabad airport were halted for several minutes after the drone was detected, triggering an immediate security response and a temporary closure of the city’s airspace.
Among the affected flights was Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-713, bound for Madinah, which was stopped from taking off despite being ready for departure.
Passengers on board were informed of the delay as airport operations remained on hold.
After a brief interval, the pilot announced that the aircraft had received takeoff clearance from the control tower.
The Madinah-bound flight subsequently departed with a delay of approximately 50 minutes.
Security sources said the temporary suspension was enforced as a precaution after a suspicious drone was sighted in Islamabad’s airspace.
Officials swiftly responded to assess the threat, and the drone was later neutralised and brought down, according to the report.
Following the operation, authorities declared Islamabad’s airspace clear, after which flight movements resumed and airport operations returned to normal.
Sources added that the drone appeared to be of a local type, though investigators are also examining the possibility that it may have entered from Afghanistan.
No casualties or damage were immediately reported. Aviation and security authorities have yet to issue a detailed official statement on the incident.
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) clarified that flight operations at Islamabad International Airport were subject to a brief operational adjustment earlier on Friday due to operational reasons.
In a statement, a PAA spokesperson said that minor adjustments were made to flight operations for a short period during the day, adding that all flights are now operating as normal.
“Due to operational reasons, a minor operational adjustment was made in flight operations at Islamabad International Airport for a short time today.
All flights at the airport are now operating according to the routine schedule,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson further advised passengers to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates regarding their flights.
Reporter: Tayyab Saif