{"id":142279,"date":"2026-05-10T17:04:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T11:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=142279"},"modified":"2026-05-10T02:43:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T21:13:16","slug":"garuda-indonesia-a330neo-pilots-holds-flight-over-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/10\/garuda-indonesia-a330neo-pilots-holds-flight-over-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Garuda Indonesia A330neo Pilots Holds Flight Over India for 4 Hours, Why?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TANGERANG\u2014<\/strong> Garuda Indonesia (GA)<\/a> operated an unusually long flight on May 8, 2026, when its Airbus A330-900neo spent hours circling over southern India. The aircraft, registered PK-GHI, was flying from Jeddah (JED) to Medan (KNO) as flight GA4208.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The journey, which usually takes around 8 hours, stretched to 12 hours and 39 minutes. The delay was caused by an airspace closure over the Bay of Bengal, reportedly for a test of the Agni-6 missile, forcing the widebody to hold near Kuala Namu International Airport (KNO) airspace approaches for an extended period, OMAAT<\/a> flagged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Garuda
Photo- Aero Icarus from Z\u00fcrich, Switzerland | Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Garuda Indonesia A330neo 4-Hours Circling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Flight GA4208 covered the 4,190-mile route from Saudi Arabia to Indonesia with a tailwind, which would normally allow a routine 8-hour sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first 5 hours and 20 minutes of the flight progressed without issue, with the Airbus A330-900neo crossing Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the Arabian Sea on the standard track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The situation changed once the aircraft entered Indian airspace. While positioned over southern India, the A330neo entered a holding pattern and remained in continuous right-hand turns for roughly 4 hours and 30 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After clearance was granted to continue, the aircraft completed the final 2 hours and 50 minutes to Medan without further disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Large chunk of Airspace in Bay of Bengal closed down for the test of Agni 6 Missile launch!

Effect of which @IndonesiaGaruda<\/a> 4208 is stuck in a pattern at FL410.

Thank you for this @swyampatanga<\/a>!#AvGeek<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/977rPTJUIE<\/a><\/p>— Hirav (@hiravaero) May 8, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>