Yes, planes do fly over Pakistan. While airspace closures can occur due to geopolitical events or safety concerns, many commercial and private flights regularly transit Pakistani airspace as a shorter and more efficient route.
Evidence of Flights Over Pakistan:
- Commercial Flights: Numerous sources confirm that commercial airlines utilize Pakistani airspace for flights between various international destinations. Examples include flights to and from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Moscow, and London, with routes often traversing Pakistani airspace. [See Quora references regarding Air India and other airlines flying over Pakistan.]
- Specific Flight Examples: Reports cite instances of specific flights, such as a British Airways flight (BA12) from Singapore to London, that transited over Pakistan. [See Reddit post on flightradar24 regarding BA12.]
- Indian Flights: Although the Indian Air Force avoids Pakistani airspace as a matter of policy, some commercial Indian airlines historically have utilized Pakistani airspace. [See NDTV article regarding Pakistani plane straying into Indian airspace and reference to Indian airlines using Pakistani airspace.]
- High-Level Flights: The statement, “The Prime Minister's aircraft does not need special consent to fly over a country and has blanket permission,” highlights that even high-profile aircraft routinely fly over Pakistan without requiring specific permissions. [See source regarding Pakistani airspace and PM's aircraft.]
Factors Affecting Flights Over Pakistan:
- Geopolitical Events: Airspace closures can and do occur due to geopolitical tensions or conflicts, significantly affecting flight routes. [See aviation.stackexchange.com post on airspace closures affecting flights.]
- Safety Concerns: Safety concerns might lead to temporary or permanent avoidance of certain airspace.
However, it's crucial to remember that the situation can be dynamic; flight paths are constantly adjusted based on various factors.
