Intensifying conflict in the Middle East has pushed Indian aviation into turbulence, with at least 350 flights cancelled on Sunday as airspace across 11 countries shut down following military strikes involving Iran, Israel and the United States.The crisis has been building over the past 48 hours. On February 28, 410 flights operated by Indian carriers were cancelled as airlines scrambled to respond to sudden airspace closures. The disruption is rapidly cascading across global routes, forcing airlines to suspend, reroute or cancel services at short notice, leaving passengers stranded and airports under strain.On Sunday, the impact was visible across key hubs as Delhi airport recorded cancellation of at least 100 international flights, while Mumbai airport reported 125 disrupted air traffic movements — 67 departures and 58 arrivals. Amritsar international airport also saw 10 cancellations linked directly to Middle East airspace closures, including multiple services operated by Qatar Airways, Air India Express, SpiceJet and IndiGo on the Dubai, Doha and Sharjah routes.The escalation follows coordinated strike by Israel and the US that led to the killing of Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a development that has triggered sweeping no-fly restrictions across large parts of the region.Officials said passengers should check flight status before heading to airports. “Passengers are advised to check their flight status with the airlines and remain in close coordination with them for any required assistance. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is in close coordination with the airlines, airport operators and other stakeholders to proactively monitor the situation and facilitate necessary passenger support,” said one of the officials.The official further said, “The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is working closely with airlines to ensure safety compliance while schedules remain fluid. Senior officials have been deployed at major airports to manage diversions, passenger movement and congestion, as terminals operate under sustained pressure.”Air India cancelled 22 additional international services on Sunday, taking its total overseas cancellations to 50. SpiceJet has cancelled 33 flights scheduled for March 1 and 2, while IndiGo has announced over 470 cancellations between March 1 and 4.Air India Express has also suspended flights to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates until 11:59 pm (IST) on March 2. A total of 16 arrivals and 17 departures of the flights have been cancelled from February 28 to March 3 at Chennai airport.“As part of our commitment to your safety and convenience, Air India is extending full flexibility if your travel to/from the Middle East is impacted due to the ongoing situation. For bookings made on or before February 28, with travel originally planned up to March 5, passengers can reschedule without additional charge or request a full refund,” an Air India spokesperson said.Singapore Airlines also announced cancellations of its Singapore-Dubai services between February 28 and March 7, citing the evolving geopolitical situation.The disruption has also spread beyond the conflict zone, hitting India-Europe and India-US routes due to blocked transit corridors. Dubai airport has reportedly cancelled around 90 per cent of its operations, affecting over 1,100 flights, while Qatar Airways has suspended Tehran services until June 30. Global airlines have not indicated any timeline for reopening affected airspace.As the pressure is mounting on the ground, the Ministry’s Passenger Assistance Control Room continues to handle a surge in complaints. On February 28, the AirSewa platform received 216 grievances, of which 105 were resolved on the same day.