New Delhi | An Air India flight operating from Delhi to Amritsar briefly entered Pakistani airspace on June 22 following an operational deviation during its landing sequence at Amritsar Airport. The airline has confirmed the incident and said that the matter has been reported to the relevant regulatory authorities, while an internal investigation is underway.
According to available information, Flight AI479 was approaching Amritsar when the crew initiated a go-around manoeuvre. In aviation, a go-around is a standard safety procedure in which a pilot aborts a landing attempt and climbs back to a safe altitude to make another approach for landing.
FCRF’s Flagship Cyber Law Certification Returns With a New Four-Week Cohort
Preliminary reports indicate that Air Traffic Control (ATC) had instructed the aircraft to hold at a point identified as 13 DME. However, the aircraft reportedly continued beyond the assigned point, turned left, and crossed the international border, entering Pakistani airspace for a short period.
Sources familiar with the incident said the aircraft was unable to fully comply with the ATC instructions during the manoeuvre, leading to the unintended airspace deviation. The aircraft subsequently returned to its designated flight path and landed safely at Amritsar Airport without any reported issues.
In a statement, Air India said the incident had been reported to all relevant regulatory authorities. The airline reiterated that the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority and that a detailed review of the circumstances surrounding the event is currently being conducted.
The carrier has not yet disclosed the specific factors that caused the aircraft to deviate from its assigned route. The investigation is expected to examine flight data, ATC communications, weather conditions, navigational inputs, and cockpit decision-making during the go-around procedure.
Aviation experts note that airports located close to international borders require precise navigation and close coordination with air traffic control. While a go-around is considered a routine and essential safety measure when landing conditions are not ideal, strict adherence to flight paths and ATC instructions is critical during such operations.
The incident comes at a time when aviation authorities worldwide are placing increased emphasis on airspace management and operational safety. However, there has been no indication that passenger safety was compromised, and the flight ultimately completed its journey safely.
Regulatory authorities and Air India are expected to determine whether technical, operational, human-factor, or other issues contributed to the temporary entry into Pakistani airspace. Until the investigation is completed, the exact cause of the incident remains unclear.
The findings of the inquiry are expected to provide greater clarity on the sequence of events and help identify any measures required to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
