Air India Flight Briefly Enters Pakistan Airspace, Lands in Amritsar 4 Hours Late

Advertisement

New Delhi: An Air India passenger flight from Delhi to Amritsar accidentally entered Pakistani airspace on Monday night due to a navigation system error, leading to a four-hour delay for passengers.

The Airbus A321 departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 9:18 PM on June 22. While approaching Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport in Amritsar, the pilot initiated a ‘go-around’ due to heavy air traffic.

During the maneuver, a technical glitch in the navigation system caused the aircraft to briefly deviate and enter Pakistani airspace.

Pakistan Air Traffic Control immediately detected the intrusion and alerted the Indian crew. The pilots corrected course and returned to Indian airspace safely. However, due to congestion at Amritsar airport and the need for technical checks, the flight was diverted back to Delhi.

After a complete inspection, the aircraft took off again and landed safely in Amritsar at 2:20 AM on June 23. Passengers faced a delay of nearly four hours.

Air India confirmed the incident, stating that during the ‘go-around’ procedure, the aircraft “briefly touched Pakistan airspace.” The airline said all regulatory authorities, including the DGCA, have been informed and an internal investigation is underway.

Advertisement

“Passenger and crew safety remains our top priority,” the statement added.

Amritsar Airport Director Bhupendra Singh called it a routine occurrence, noting the aircraft entered only about 1.5 miles into Pakistani territory. “There is nothing alarming about it,” he said.

Since April 2025, Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian aircraft due to political tensions between the two countries. However, officials confirmed that coordination between Indian and Pakistani ATC during the emergency prevented any escalation.

Authorities are now investigating the exact cause of the navigation error. A similar incident recently occurred when a Pakistani aircraft entered Indian airspace due to bad weather.

Also read: Hoodie in 33°C Heat: How a CCTV Clue Busted Lohagad Fort Murder Plot

Advertisement