TEHRAN: An Iranian Varesh Airlines flight bound for Dushanbe returned to Tehran on Thursday after it was unable to continue its planned route because it reportedly lacked permission to cross the airspace of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.
The morning flight departed Iran for the Tajik capital but encountered restrictions after takeoff, preventing the aircraft from completing its scheduled journey.
According to information attributed to the flight’s pilot, the aircraft could not proceed because the required overflight permission for Turkmen and Azerbaijani airspace had not been received.
Consequently, the crew abandoned the onward journey and returned the aircraft to Iran.
Flight Returns to Imam Khomeini Airport After Route Disruption
The Varesh Airlines aircraft subsequently landed back at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport after the planned route became unavailable.
Initial reports had focused on disruption involving Azerbaijani airspace. However, subsequent information attributed to the pilot indicated that permission to cross both Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan had not been secured.
The supplied report did not identify the flight number, aircraft type or number of passengers aboard.
Furthermore, no information was provided about whether passengers would be accommodated on another flight or when Varesh Airlines might attempt to resume the Tehran-Dushanbe service.
Reason for Overflight Restrictions Remains Unclear
The report did not explain why authorities in Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan had allegedly withheld or failed to provide the required overflight permission.
Neither country’s aviation authorities were quoted in the supplied information, while no statement from Varesh Airlines explaining the circumstances was provided.
Therefore, it remains unclear whether the disruption resulted from administrative, operational or wider aviation restrictions.
The incident nevertheless resulted in the cancellation of Thursday morning’s journey after departure, with the aircraft safely returning to Tehran rather than continuing towards Tajikistan without the necessary permission to cross the planned airspaces.
Iranian Varesh Airlines flight from Tehran to Dushanbe was cancelled and returned to Imam Khomeini Airport after its route through Azerbaijani airspace was denied/disrupted. pic.twitter.com/gM9YmpjuRP
— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 24, 2026
