An Air India flight operating on the Delhi–Amritsar sector briefly strayed into Pakistani airspace on Monday night (June 22, 2026) following a technical malfunction in its onboard navigation tools. The aircraft safely returned to Indian territory and eventually reached its destination after a series of operational diversions that left passengers facing a nearly four-hour delay.

Flight Path and Airspace Deviation

The aircraft, an Airbus A321 operating as Flight AI-463, departed from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 9:18 PM, just a few minutes behind its scheduled departure.

Shortly into the flight, the aircraft encountered a significant technical snag that disrupted its navigation tools. Unaware of the glitch initially, the aircraft drifted westward, crossing the International Border and entering Pakistani airspace.

  • The Alert: The route deviation was quickly flagged by Pakistani Air Traffic Control (ATC) authorities.
  • The Correction: Pakistani ATC promptly coordinated with the flight crew to alert them of the airspace breach. Upon receiving the warning, the pilots immediately corrected their course and guided the aircraft back into Indian territory.

Operational Challenges and Diversions

Though the cross-border situation was resolved smoothly, the flight faced further complications upon returning to India.

1.Amritsar Airspace Congestion:Monday, ~10:30 PM.

As the aircraft approached Amritsar's Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport around its scheduled landing time, local air traffic controllers reported heavy traffic congestion. Unable to secure an immediate landing slot, the flight was instructed to divert.

2.Return and Technical Inspection in Delhi:Monday Night.

The flight was directed back to the national capital. It landed safely at Delhi airport, where ground crews conducted a necessary technical inspection and addressed the navigation system malfunction.

3.Final Clearances and Takeoff:Tuesday Early Morning.

After spending roughly two hours on the ground in Delhi to secure fresh operational clearances and ensure the aircraft's airworthiness, the flight took off for Amritsar for a second time.

4.Safe Landing at Destination:Tuesday, 2:20 AM.

The flight finally touched down safely at Amritsar airport, concluding the journey nearly four hours behind its original schedule.

Official Stance and Investigation

Neither Air India nor India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has released an official statement specifying the exact nature of the onboard technical failure. However, aviation authorities have launched a routine investigation to thoroughly assess the factors behind the route deviation.

Context: This incident follows a similar occurrence last month, where a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight briefly entered Indian airspace due to adverse weather conditions before being safely guided back to its route by Indian Air Traffic Control.