DUBAI — Aviation enthusiasts were left baffled Tuesday when flight tracking data appeared to show a Mahan Air Airbus A340-300 (Registration: EP-MJC) departing Dubai International Airport (DXB) bound for Tehran, despite a total “no-fly” order currently in effect over Iranian territory.
The aircraft had been grounded at DXB since February 28, the day the Tehran Flight Information Region (FIR) was shuttered following the onset of US and Israeli strikes and subsequent Iranian retaliation. At approximately 13:15 UTC, ADSB (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) data showed the wide-body jet lining up and taking off, sparking immediate questions about how a commercial flight could have Tehran as destination.
According to live telemetry from several tracking platforms, flight W560 did not take the standard north-northwest heading toward Iran. Instead, the data showed the A340 climbing to 33,000 feet and turning east, mimicking the standard departure corridor used by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights bound for Lahore.
The flight path took the aircraft over the Gulf of Oman, where it maintained a steady cruise before the signal abruptly vanished from all tracking screens.
The “Pakistan Corridor” Bypass
Some speculate the aircraft may have been attempting a high-stakes ferry flight. While the Iranian FIR is officially closed to civilian traffic, a commercial aircraft can fly with its transponder on only if it has secured specific military clearances or “safe passage” diplomatic status.
The aircraft might have been attempting to reach Pakistani airspace to wait out the conflict or return to eastern Iran via a different entry point.
The “Ghost” of GPS Jamming
The more likely explanation, according to electronic warfare analysts, is that the aircraft never left the ground or at least, not on the path shown.
- Electronic Fog: Since March 1, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz have been hit by unprecedented levels of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) interference.
- Spoofing: Reports indicate over 1,100 vessels and dozens of aircraft in the region have seen their GPS coordinates “teleported” to strange locations.
The fact that the A340 disappeared over the water suggests it may have hit a “jamming wall” where the transponder could no longer provide accurate positioning, or the signal was being spoofed to appear as if it were a different flight (like a PIA AP-BMH aircraft to LHE).
Current Status of Airspace
The Iranian Aviation Organization has extended its total closure until at least March 7, with NOTAMs (Notice to Air Missions) warning that any unauthorized entry into the FIR will be met with “immediate kinetic response.”
