New Delhi, June 24: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced on Wednesday that Air India flight AI-479, traveling from Delhi to Amritsar, briefly entered Pakistani airspace two days ago. This incident was managed in coordination with Pakistani air traffic control (ATC) officials, and the aircraft safely returned to Delhi.
According to the DGCA’s statement, the Airbus A321, registered as VT-PPV, was instructed to circle in the air for a while due to a bird strike incident that necessitated a runway inspection at Amritsar Airport. While being guided for landing via radar, the aircraft inadvertently crossed into Pakistani airspace for a short duration. Coordination with Pakistani ATC was maintained throughout the situation, and the flight was later redirected back to Delhi, landing safely.
Earlier, Air India had stated that during the go-around procedure on June 22, the flight had strayed into Pakistani airspace for a brief distance.
Air India emphasized, “We have informed regulatory authorities about this incident, and an internal investigation is underway. The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority.”
Currently, Pakistani airspace remains closed to all Indian-registered, owned, or leased aircraft, including both civilian and military flights. This restriction was imposed in April 2025 following a terrorist attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which escalated border tensions.
Since then, Pakistan has been extending the duration of this ban every month. In response, India has also restricted Pakistani aircraft from using its airspace. Earlier this month, Pakistan extended the ban on Indian civilian and military flights until July 24.
The Pakistan Airports Authority issued a notice last week stating, “The ban on Indian civilian and military aircraft will remain in effect from June 16 at 5:50 PM until July 24 at 4:59 AM.”
As a result of this restriction, Indian airlines like Air India and Indigo have been forced to take longer and alternative routes for flights to Europe, Central Asia, and North America. Due to the inability to use direct northern routes, flights heading west and north now have to navigate over the Arabian Sea, passing through the UAE, Oman, or other alternative paths.
These longer routes require aircraft to carry more fuel, reducing the capacity for passengers or cargo. The additional routing has imposed a significant financial burden on airlines, potentially leading to increased air ticket prices.
Due to the ban on Pakistani airspace and ongoing tensions in West Asia, Indian airlines have occasionally had to temporarily suspend some international flights to Central Asian cities like Almaty and Tashkent.
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