AMRITSAR: Air India flight AI 479, flying from Delhi to Amritsar, reportedly strayed into Pakistani airspace on Tuesday night before returning safely after receiving a warning from Lahore Air Traffic Control (ATC).The Airbus A321 departed Delhi at approximately 9.18pm and, instead of landing at Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport, drifted toward the international border into Pakistani airspace. Upon detection, Lahore ATC alerted the pilot, after which the aircraft executed a U-turn.Instead of landing at Amritsar, the flight was diverted back to Delhi due to heavy air traffic. It later departed again from Delhi and landed in Amritsar at around 2.10am on June 24.There was no official statement from the Amritsar airport director. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, downplayed the incident. Instead of clarifying whether the aircraft actually entered Pakistani airspace, he simply said that it flew “within a mile or so” of the international border, leaving its exact position unconfirmed.But at the same time, the official added that the flight’s movements were coordinated with Lahore ATC and that the diversion to Delhi was a result of congestion at Amritsar. The aircraft was refueled in Delhi before continuing to Amritsar.The official also said that such occurrences are not uncommon and that Pakistani passenger aircraft have, at times, flown inside the Indian airspace or near the international border and are similarly coordinated and redirected.Sources indicated that an investigation has been initiated to determine the precise cause of the route deviation.
