New Delhi: Due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace as a result of Russia's military offensive, an Air India plane that took off for Kyiv in Ukraine on Thursday morning to bring back Indians from the eastern European country has returned to Delhi.

The Ukrainian authorities issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) shortly after the Air India flight left Delhi on Thursday morning, stating that civil aircraft flights within Ukraine "are restricted owing to potential civil aviation danger."

Officials added that Air India and the federal government decided to call the plane back to Delhi, and that the plane made a U-turn in Iranian airspace to return to Delhi. 

According to an airline official, Air India flight AI 1947 is returning to Kyiv after a NOTAM was issued. At around 7.30 a.m., the flight left Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) for Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv. In the meantime, a Ukraine International Airlines flight from Kyiv arrived in Delhi at 7.45 a.m. on Thursday.

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