Key facts
- Air India aircraft crossed into Pakistani airspace near Amritsar
- Incident described as accidental
- Occurred near the sensitive India-Pakistan border corridor
- Aviation authorities on both sides examining the breach
An Air India commercial flight accidentally entered Pakistani airspace near Amritsar, aviation sources confirmed, marking an unusual and diplomatically sensitive navigational error along one of the subcontinent's most closely watched borders.
The incident is understood to have been unintentional, with the aircraft veering off its designated flight path before corrections were made. Amritsar, situated close to the international border, sits within airspace where any deviation carries immediate geopolitical weight — particularly in the aftermath of heightened India-Pakistan military tensions earlier this year.
Pakistan's aviation authorities are believed to have flagged the incursion, and India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation is expected to investigate how the error occurred. Air India has not yet issued a formal public statement elaborating on the sequence of events, but the airline has acknowledged the crossing.
The episode serves as a stark reminder of the operational challenges facing commercial aviation in the region, where political sensitivities transform routine navigational lapses into potential diplomatic incidents. With cross-border airspace between India and Pakistan only recently reopened after periodic closures, any incursion — however accidental — will receive intense scrutiny from both governments.