DGCA said Air India flight AI-479, operated by an Airbus A321 aircraft (VT-PPV), was asked to hold during its approach into Amritsar while runway inspections were being carried out.
An Air India flight operating between Delhi and Amritsar briefly entered Pakistan airspace during its approach into Amritsar, said India’s aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday (June 24, 2026).The incident occurred on June 22, 2026, after being instructed to hold owing to a runway inspection following a bird strike incident.In a statement, the DGCA said Air India flight AI-479, operated by an Airbus A321 aircraft (VT-PPV), was asked to hold during its approach into Amritsar while runway inspections were being carried out.According to the regulator, after the aircraft commenced its approach, it briefly entered Pakistan airspace during radar vectoring.The DGCA stated that the event was coordinated with Pakistan Air Traffic Control authorities.Furthermore, the aircraft subsequently diverted back to Delhi and landed safely.As per the regulator, interim action has been taken against the concerned air traffic controller at Amritsar as well as the operating crew for non-reporting of the event.The regulator did not provide additional details regarding the duration of the airspace entry or the nature of the interim action taken.On its part, an Air India spokesperson in a statement said that the crew operating flight AI479 from Delhi to Amritsar on 22 June had marginally infringed into the Pakistan airspace while manoeuvring a go-around at Amritsar airport. “The incident has been reported to the regulatory authorities and is being investigated internally. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew remain top priority,” the spokesperson said.Published on June 24, 2026
