Air India Flight Briefly Enters Pakistan Airspace Near Amritsar, Internal Probe Underway

Air India has launched an internal investigation after one of its domestic flights briefly entered Pakistani airspace while attempting to land at Amritsar airport in Punjab. The incident occurred on June 22 and involved flight AI479, which was operating from Delhi to Amritsar.

According to a statement issued by the airline, the aircraft marginally crossed into Pakistani airspace while performing a go-around manoeuvre near Amritsar airport. A go-around is a standard aviation procedure in which pilots abort a landing attempt and climb back into the air to reposition the aircraft for another approach. Such manoeuvres can be initiated for several reasons, including weather conditions, runway congestion, air traffic control instructions, or safety considerations.

Air India confirmed that the aircraft briefly crossed the international border during the manoeuvre and subsequently returned to Indian airspace without any reported safety concerns. The airline stressed that passenger and crew safety remained uncompromised throughout the incident.

Preliminary information suggests that Air Traffic Control had instructed the aircraft to hold over a designated point identified as 13 DME, a navigational reference used by pilots to determine distance from a specific location. However, while manoeuvring, the aircraft continued toward the Amritsar Airport Reference Point and executed a left turn that resulted in it crossing the International Border and entering Pakistani airspace for a short period.

The airline indicated that the crew was unable to fully comply with the ATC instructions during the manoeuvre, leading to the unintended airspace infringement. Aviation experts note that airports located close to international borders often require highly precise navigation and coordination between pilots and air traffic controllers to avoid such occurrences.

Air India described the airspace violation as a “marginal infringement” and emphasized that the matter had been reported to all relevant regulatory authorities. The airline has also initiated an internal review to determine the sequence of events that led to the incident and identify whether any procedural changes or corrective measures are required.

The carrier has not disclosed additional operational details or explained why the aircraft was unable to follow the original holding instructions. Regulatory authorities are expected to examine flight data, cockpit communications, radar records, and air traffic control instructions as part of the review process.

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The incident comes at a time when aviation safety remains under heightened scrutiny, particularly for flights operating near sensitive international boundaries. While brief and unintentional border crossings are rare, they are treated seriously by aviation regulators due to the security and diplomatic implications involved.

For now, Air India maintains that the event was limited in scope and that safety was never compromised. The outcome of the internal investigation and any findings from aviation authorities are expected to provide greater clarity on the circumstances surrounding the brief airspace intrusion.