FIRs Closed Simultaneously
On February 28, 2026, twelve flight information regions across the Persian Gulf were closed simultaneously — the largest coordinated airspace shutdown since the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull volcanic ash cloud grounded European aviation.
Context
The February 28, 2026 Gulf airspace shutdown affected 12 flight information regions simultaneously, creating a wall of restricted airspace stretching from Iran to the Red Sea. This was an unprecedented event in modern aviation — the only comparable incident being the 2010 volcanic ash cloud that closed European airspace for six days.
Eight sovereign states issued airspace declarations within hours of each other, coordinating closures across their respective FIRs. The closures severed the primary routing corridor between Europe and Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Airlines with flights already airborne were forced into emergency diversions, while hundreds of departures were cancelled on the ground.
The shutdown lasted between 6 and 72 hours depending on the specific FIR, with some regions reopening under restricted conditions that limited available flight levels and routing options. The event demonstrated how rapidly a regional conflict can cascade into a global aviation disruption.
Key Data Points
Sources
- Eurocontrol — Network Operations Report, February 28, 2026
- ICAO — Middle East Regional Office coordination bulletins, February-March 2026
- FlightRadar24 — Live traffic data showing 12 FIR closures, February 28, 2026
- IATA — "Airspace Closure Impact Assessment: Gulf Region," March 2026
Cite this data:
This data is compiled from publicly available sources for informational purposes only. Always consult official aviation authorities for operational decisions.