India, March 16 -- Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday said 4,335 Indian flights were cancelled due to the ongoing West Asia crisis.

In a response to CPI MP Sandosh Kumar P, who sought the number of flight operations cancelled after February 28, Naidu said, "Regarding the cancellations that have happened because of airspace closure in West Asia, Indian carriers have cancelled up to 4,335 flights and foreign carriers have cancelled up to 1,187 flights so far."

"During this crisis, the safety of the operations is the topmost priority," he added.

Naidu also said that there was no reason for the airlines to operate when an airspace itself is closed.

"With constant communication with the air regulators in those specific count...