Air India AI479 Breached Pakistani Airspace for Less Than Two Minutes

An Air India flight traveling from Delhi to Amritsar briefly entered Pakistani airspace during a landing maneuver after experiencing a technical issue, according to the airline. The incident involved Flight AI479 on June 22 and lasted for less than two minutes before the aircraft safely returned to Indian airspace. Air India said the aircraft unintentionally crossed the border while performing a “go-around” procedure near Amritsar Airport. A go-around is a standard aviation safety maneuver in which a pilot aborts a landing attempt and circles back for another approach if conditions are not suitable for landing. Reports suggest the crew became aware of the airspace breach after receiving a warning from Pakistan’s Air Traffic Control authorities. The pilots then immediately changed course and guided the aircraft back toward Indian airspace. Flight tracking data shows that the aircraft crossed the Attari border area during the maneuver. Initially approaching Amritsar for landing, the flight was unable to land because of heavy air traffic and operational constraints at the airport. Air Traffic Control later instructed the aircraft to return to Delhi. The plane had departed Delhi at 9:18 p.m., just a few minutes behind schedule, and was expected to arrive in Amritsar at 10:30 p.m. After returning to Delhi, the aircraft underwent technical inspections before being cleared for another flight to Amritsar. Air India has described the incident as an unintended airspace violation and confirmed that all relevant aviation regulators have been informed. The event has attracted attention because India and Pakistan continue to maintain strict airspace restrictions following heightened tensions between the two countries. Despite the brief border crossing, officials emphasized that the situation was handled safely and that passenger safety was never compromised.