The transit of a Pakistan Air Force Gulfstream G450 through Indian-controlled international airspace on February 14, 2026, has reignited a sensitive aviation and geopolitical debate in South Asia. The flight, tracked in real time by OSINT observers, highlighted the complex legal distinction between sovereign airspace restrictions and airspace managed under international aviation frameworks.
Route through Mumbai & Chennai FIRs
The PAF aircraft flew from Lahore to Sri Lanka via airspace managed by India’s Flight Information Regions, raising questions despite an existing ban on Pakistani aircraft in Indian sovereign airspace.
No technical airspace violation
Analysts noted the jet remained beyond 12 nautical miles from the Indian coastline, meaning it stayed outside territorial airspace while still operating within Indian-controlled international airspace.
Ban rooted in past crises
Airspace restrictions date back to the 2019 Balakot episode and were reinforced after the 2025 Pahalgam attack, turning aviation access into a strategic pressure tool.
Legal grey zone exposed
The incident forced a distinction between sovereign airspace and FIR-managed airspace governed by global aviation rules, a nuance often overlooked in political discourse.
OSINT tracking made it global
Real-time monitoring on Flightradar24 quickly transformed the ferry flight into a major talking point across defense forums and social media.
Strategic signaling dimension
Experts view the transit as part of the broader Indo-Pak rivalry, where airspace management is increasingly tied to diplomacy, security, and messaging rather than purely civil aviation.