An Air India flight between Delhi and Amritsar briefly entered Pakistani airspace on Wednesday when a go-around manoeuvre was carried out at Amritsar airport.
The incident involved flight AI479, which was heading towards Amritsar on June 22 when the crew performed a go-around during landing. The aircraft went through Pakistani airspace during the course of the landing and then flew back to its flight direction.
Air India Confirms Incident
Air India claimed that the crew had “marginally infringed” on Pakistan’s airspace while performing a go-around around Amritsar airport.
The crew of flight AI479 from Delhi to Amritsar on 22 June had marginally infringed into the Pakistan airspace while manoeuvring a go-around at Amritsar airport. The incident has been reported to the regulatory authorities and is being investigated internally," the airline said.
The airline stressed that the safety of the passengers and crew remained unchanged throughout the event.
What Is a Go-Around?
A go-around is a standard aviation safety procedure in which pilots stop a landing attempt and climb away from the runway before making another approach.
Such manoeuvres can be triggered by unstable approaches, runway conditions, weather change, air traffic instructions, or safety concerns on landing.
Aviation professionals say go-arounds are routine procedures to improve safety and are not considered emergencies.
Investigation Underway
Air India has reported the incident to the relevant aviation authorities and started an internal review to determine the circumstances that led to the brief airspace infringement.
At present, there is no indication that the aircraft experienced any problems or that passenger safety was compromised during the manoeuvre.
The airline has not disclosed the duration of the airspace entry or the exact distance crossed into Pakistani territory.
Safety Remains Top Priority
The incident took place at a time when airlines are under much more scrutiny on flight operations and safety procedures. “Safety of passengers and crew is Air India’s top priority,” the airline said.
The investigation will be done by the regulators who will examine flight data and operational records to see whether the plane actually crossed into neighboring airspace during the landing process.
While the incident seems to have been small, it has attracted attention since the airspace management along the India-Pakistan border and the strict protocols that govern aircraft operations in the area are closely intertwined.
