Air India Flight Enters Pakistan Airspace; DGCA Takes Action Against ATC Personnel
An Air India flight from Delhi accidentally entered Pakistan airspace during a go-around maneuver at Amritsar airport. The DGCA has launched an investigation and taken interim disciplinary action against the Air Traffic Controller and flight crew for failing to report the breach immediately.
Highlights
- •An Air India flight briefly entered Pakistan airspace during a go-around maneuver at Amritsar airport.
- •The DGCA has initiated disciplinary action against the operating crew and the Amritsar Air Traffic Controller.
- •The flight safely diverted to New Delhi before completing its journey to Amritsar later that evening.
- •The incident occurred during a runway inspection delay following a bird strike at the airport.
A recent Air India flight incident has raised serious concerns regarding aviation safety protocols. The flight, which was traveling from New Delhi, inadvertently entered Pakistan airspace while attempting a maneuver at Amritsar airport on the night of June 22, 2026. The aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has officially launched an investigation into the matter and has already initiated interim disciplinary actions against the involved personnel.
Details of the Air India Airspace Infringement
According to regulatory reports, the aircraft, identified by registration VT-PPV, was executing a go-around procedure at the Amritsar facility when it marginally crossed into Pakistan territory. The incident, which occurred shortly after 8:00 PM, happened while the flight was under radar vectoring. The aircraft was reportedly asked to hold its position due to a runway inspection necessitated by a prior bird strike incident. This brief incursion is highly significant given that Pakistan has maintained a closure of its airspace for Indian airlines since April 2025.
The DGCA confirmed that the situation was managed through coordination with Pakistan Air Traffic Control (ATC) authorities. Following the deviation, the flight safely diverted back to New Delhi. The airline later successfully conducted the flight to Amritsar, landing safely after 10:00 PM that same night. While the number of passengers aboard remains unconfirmed, the safety breach has prompted a stern response from the national aviation oversight body.
Regulatory Action and Ongoing Investigation
The DGCA has taken swift interim action against both the Air Traffic Controller stationed at Amritsar and the Air India operating crew. The regulator specifically cited a failure to properly report the event as a contributing factor in their decision to pursue disciplinary measures. The airline has stated that it is cooperating fully with the official probe and is simultaneously conducting its own internal investigation to determine how this navigational error occurred.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding flight paths near international borders, especially in regions with sensitive geopolitical status. As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on ensuring that air traffic management and flight crew coordination are robust enough to prevent such unauthorized airspace infringements in the future. The safety of passengers remains the absolute priority for all stakeholders involved in this inquiry.
