Air India flight AI479 briefly enters Pakistani airspace during go-around at Amritsar
Synopsis
An Air India flight from Delhi to Amritsar briefly crossed into Pakistani airspace — territory that has been formally closed to all Indian aircraft since April 2025. The incident during a routine go-around at Amritsar airport has triggered a regulatory probe, spotlighting how the ongoing India-Pakistan airspace standoff is creating operational risk even on domestic routes.
Key Takeaways
Air India flight AI479 briefly infringed Pakistani airspace on 22 June 2025 during a go-around manoeuvre at Amritsar airport .
The airline has reported the incident to regulatory authorities and launched an internal investigation .
Pakistan's airspace has been closed to all Indian aircraft since April 2025 , following the Pahalgam terror attack; the ban now runs until 24 July 2025 .
Indian carriers Air India and IndiGo are already rerouting international flights via the Arabian Sea , UAE , and Oman , adding significant cost.
Some routes to Almaty and Tashkent have been temporarily suspended due to the combined impact of the airspace ban and West Asia conflict.
Air India flight AI479, operating from New Delhi to Amritsar, briefly infringed Pakistani airspace on 22 June 2025 while executing a go-around manoeuvre during its approach to Amritsar airport, the Tata Group-owned airline confirmed in an official statement. Regulatory authorities have been notified and an internal investigation is underway.
What Happened
The incident occurred as the aircraft's crew attempted a go-around — a standard aviation procedure where a landing is aborted and the aircraft climbs back to a safe altitude to attempt another approach. During this manoeuvre, the flight 'marginally infringed' into Pakistani territory, according to Air India's statement.
'The crew operating 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 airline said.
Air India's Response
The airline confirmed the incident has been reported to relevant regulatory authorities and is also being examined by its own management. 'The incident has been reported to the regulatory authorities and is being investigated internally. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew remains top priority,' the carrier's statement read.
No injuries or operational disruptions to passengers were reported in connection with the incident.
The Pakistani Airspace Ban: Background
Pakistan's airspace has remained closed to all Indian-registered, owned, or leased aircraft — both civil and military — since April 2025, following the terror attack on Indian tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir and the subsequent escalation of border tensions. Pakistan has been extending this restriction on a monthly basis. India maintains a reciprocal ban on Pakistani aircraft using its airspace.
Most recently, the Pakistan Airports Authority extended the ban through 4.59 am on 24 July 2025, effective from 5.50 pm on 16 June. The authority issued a formal notice to this effect last week.
Financial and Operational Impact on Indian Carriers
The ongoing airspace closure has forced Indian airlines including Air India and IndiGo to adopt longer, costlier alternative routes for international flights to Europe, Central Asia, and North America. Without access to the direct northern corridor, aircraft are being diverted over the Arabian Sea, transiting via the UAE, Oman, or other detour corridors.
The extended flight times require aircraft to carry additional fuel, directly reducing passenger and cargo payload capacity. These forced detours are reportedly contributing to tens of millions in financial burden for Indian carriers and could push up ticket prices for travellers. Some international routes — including flights to Almaty and Tashkent — have been temporarily suspended due to the combined effect of the Pakistani airspace ban and ongoing turbulence in West Asia.
What Comes Next
Aviation regulators are expected to examine the circumstances of the 22 June go-around incident, with Air India's internal probe running in parallel. The outcome could have procedural implications for how airlines navigate the restricted airspace corridor near Amritsar — an airport that sits in close geographic proximity to the international boundary. The broader airspace standoff between India and Pakistan shows no sign of near-term resolution, with the current ban in place until late July.
Point of View
Any crossing, however brief or inadvertent, carries regulatory and geopolitical sensitivity that goes well beyond routine aviation procedure. What the episode also underscores is a structural problem: Amritsar's geographic proximity to the international boundary leaves almost no margin for error during non-standard manoeuvres, a risk that will persist for as long as the airspace ban remains in force. Regulators and airlines alike will need clearer procedural buffers for approaches at border-adjacent airports — a gap this incident has now made impossible to ignore.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened with Air India flight AI479 on 22 June 2025?
Air India flight AI479, flying from New Delhi to Amritsar, briefly entered Pakistani airspace on 22 June 2025 while performing a go-around manoeuvre during its approach to Amritsar airport. The airline has reported the incident to regulatory authorities and is conducting an internal investigation.
Why is Pakistani airspace closed to Indian aircraft?
Pakistan closed its airspace to all Indian-registered, owned, or leased aircraft — civil and military — in April 2025 following the terror attack on Indian tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir and the subsequent escalation of border tensions. The ban has been extended monthly and currently runs until 24 July 2025.
What is a go-around manoeuvre and why does it matter here?
A go-around is a standard aviation safety procedure in which a pilot aborts a landing approach and climbs back to altitude to attempt another landing. In this case, the manoeuvre at Amritsar — an airport close to the Pakistan border — resulted in a brief, reportedly marginal crossing into Pakistani airspace, which is currently off-limits to Indian aircraft.
How is the Pakistan airspace ban affecting Indian airlines financially?
Indian carriers including Air India and IndiGo are being forced to reroute international flights over the Arabian Sea via the UAE and Oman, adding flight time and fuel costs. These detours are reportedly contributing tens of millions in additional financial burden and may lead to higher ticket prices. Some flights to Central Asian cities like Almaty and Tashkent have been temporarily suspended.
Who is investigating the Air India airspace incident?
Both the relevant aviation regulatory authorities and Air India's own management are investigating the 22 June incident. The airline confirmed in its statement that the matter has been reported to regulators and is being examined internally.
