Air India Flight Strays into Pakistan Airspace During Go-Around
On the night of June 22, 2026, an Air India flight from Delhi found itself briefly in Pakistan’s airspace while attempting a go-around at Amritsar airport.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), initial measures were taken on June 24 against the air traffic controller in Amritsar and the flight crew for not reporting the incident. The airline confirmed that the event has been reported to authorities and is under internal investigation.
The DGCA explained that the aircraft entered Pakistani airspace momentarily during its approach due to a situation that required it to go around. They coordinated with Pakistani air traffic control, and the plane ultimately diverted to Delhi, landing safely.
Pakistan has restricted its airspace for Indian airlines since April 2025. The flight in question, AI479, faced this unusual situation shortly after 8 p.m. on June 22.
Air India stated that the aircraft, designated VT-PPV, was instructed to hold because of a runway inspection necessitated by a bird strike. While the DGCA did not detail the actions taken against the air traffic team and crew, it noted that the flight returned to Delhi before taking off again for Amritsar, where it landed shortly after 10 p.m.
As of now, information regarding the number of passengers on board has not been made public.
