SpiceJet has temporarily suspended its three times-a-week operations between Delhi and Kabul. The airline operated flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, while Air India operates five times a week.

In a statement, the Chennai-based airline said that due to security situation in Kabul and its airport, SpiceJet has decided to temporarily suspend its Kabul flights until the situation improves.

The airport in Kabul came under rocket attack on July 3 when a SpiceJet flight was pushing back. It again came under attack on Thursday.

“In view of the above, we have decided to take this step as the safety of our passengers and crew is of paramount importance to us. We will offer passengers a full refund and will also try to request other airlines that operate to Kabul to accommodate them if they still desire to travel,” said the statement.

Pre-dawn attack on Kabul airport

The airline's decision to suspend operations comes a day after gunmen carried out a pre-dawn attack on Kabul airport which temporarily shut down the facility and set-off a gun battle with security forces.

Following Thursday’s incident, SpiceJet had first cancelled its flight on that day and later announced a complete suspension of operations on Friday morning.

Air India is the only other Indian carrier which has regular flights linking India with Afghanistan. At the moment, there is no clarity on whether Air India will continue with its flights.

Security situation in Kabul

The security situation in Kabul has been fragile for a while now. As early as July 3, Sanjiv Kapur, SpiceJet Chief Operating Officer, had tweeted, "Kabul rocket attack near runway today aimed at military target. SpiceJet pax (passengers), crew, aircraft safe. Flight will depart with pax (passengers) for DEL (Delhi) soon."

What is the fear:

Pilots from Indian airlines operating to Kabul said the biggest fear is that their aircraft could be got down while they were coming into land by an extremist having access to a shoulder held rocket launcher, unlike the sophisticated rocket launcher which is believed to have got down the Malaysia aircraft which was flying at 10 km over the earth.

When aircraft come into land in Kabul they are hundred of meters above the ground and many pilots say sitting target for a missile attack.

Airline officials, however, point out that flights to Kabul are operated only after the local administration give the all clear for flights to be operated.

Malaysia Airline plane shot down

But given that a Malaysia Airline aircraft on a flight between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur went down probably because of it being shot down, there is bound to be some anxiety in the minds of travellers and crew.

The unfortunate downing of a Malaysia Airline aircraft flying between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur again raises issues about the flights that SpiceJet and Air India operate to Kabul.

At a news conference in Kuala Lumpur on Friday morning, Najib Razak, Malaysia Prime Minister, said: "It cannot be confirmed what was the cause of the tragedy, but the Ukrainian authorities believe that the flight MH17 was shot down.''

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