An Air India flight operating between Delhi and Amritsar briefly entered Pakistani airspace while carrying out a go-around manoeuvre at Amritsar airport on June 22, prompting both regulatory reporting and an internal review by the airline. Air India confirmed that flight AI479 crossed the international airspace boundary for a short duration while its crew was executing the standard aviation procedure after an attempted landing approach. A go-around is a routine safety manoeuvre in which pilots abort a landing and climb away from the runway when conditions are not considered suitable for a safe touchdown. Though such procedures are common in commercial aviation, the brief airspace infringement has drawn attention because of the proximity of Amritsar airport to the India-Pakistan border and the sensitivity surrounding cross-border airspace movements.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Air India said the aircraft had only marginally entered Pakistani airspace during the manoeuvre. The airline added that the matter had been promptly reported to the relevant regulatory authorities in accordance with established aviation protocols. Officials are now examining flight data and operational records to understand the exact sequence of events that led to the temporary deviation. Aviation experts note that aircraft operating near international borders often require precise navigation and close coordination with air traffic control, particularly during unexpected manoeuvres such as go-arounds. While the airline has not disclosed how long the aircraft remained inside Pakistani airspace or how far it travelled beyond the boundary, it stressed that the incident was limited in scope and occurred during a safety-driven operational procedure.
Air India also underlined that the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority and that a detailed internal investigation is underway. The airline has not reported any impact on passengers or the continuation of the flight, indicating that the aircraft subsequently landed safely at Amritsar. The incident comes at a time when airlines worldwide are placing increasing emphasis on operational safety, navigation accuracy and adherence to international aviation norms. Regulatory authorities are expected to review the findings of the airline’s inquiry before determining whether any additional action or recommendations are required. For now, Air India maintains that the occurrence is being treated with the seriousness it deserves, while reiterating that all necessary procedures were followed once the brief airspace infringement was detected. The outcome of the investigation is expected to provide greater clarity on the circumstances that resulted in the aircraft momentarily crossing into Pakistani airspace during what was intended to be a routine landing operation.