New Delhi, June 24: An Air India flight operating between Delhi and Amritsar briefly entered Pakistani airspace after experiencing a technical malfunction in its onboard navigation system, aviation sources said on Wednesday. The aircraft returned safely to Indian airspace after being alerted by Pakistani air traffic controllers, and no passengers or crew were harmed in the incident.
According to officials, the Airbus A321 was operating on the Delhi-Amritsar route on Monday night when a snag in the navigation system caused the aircraft to drift westward from its designated flight path. The deviation led the plane to cross the International Border and enter Pakistani airspace for a brief period.
Sources said Lahore Air Traffic Control detected the deviation and alerted the flight crew, following which corrective measures were taken immediately. The aircraft subsequently returned to Indian airspace and continued its journey under monitoring by aviation authorities.
The flight later landed safely in Amritsar after operational checks. Preliminary reports indicate that the incident was caused by a technical issue affecting the aircraft’s navigation equipment, though the exact nature of the malfunction has not yet been disclosed. Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have not issued a detailed public statement on the matter.
A routine investigation has been initiated to determine the circumstances that led to the route deviation and to assess whether additional safety measures are required. Aviation experts noted that while such incidents are rare, modern air traffic control systems and communication protocols are designed to ensure aircraft can be guided back safely in the event of navigation failures.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of aviation safety and follows several recent technical disruptions involving commercial aircraft operating in the region. Authorities are expected to examine flight data and cockpit recordings as part of the ongoing inquiry.
