India’s civil-aviation regulator has opened an investigation after Air India flight AI-479 (Delhi–Amritsar) briefly crossed into Lahore Flight Information Region on 22 June during a go-around at Amritsar. The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has de-rostered the cockpit crew and the local air-traffic controller for failing to file a mandatory occurrence report. According to preliminary information, runway inspection following a bird-strike forced the Airbus A321 to abort its final approach. Radar vectors issued by Amritsar ATC resulted in a shallow incursion – coordinated with Pakistan ATC – before the aircraft diverted safely to Delhi. No passengers were harmed and the flight later completed the sector. The incident comes amid a reciprocal airspace closure imposed by India and Pakistan after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. While technical coordination for safety is permissible, unplanned crossings raise both security and insurance concerns for carriers that normally route around prohibited zones. For corporate travel teams the key takeaway is operational resilience: India–Punjab services may see minor schedule padding while DGCA audits Amritsar procedures. Insurers could demand updated risk disclosures and cockpit crews will face refresher briefings on cross-border vectoring. Companies moving personnel through North India should monitor NOTAMs and factor possible delays at Amritsar and Delhi during the monsoon season. A detailed DGCA report is expected within 30 days; any systemic lapses could trigger new Standard Operating Procedures for flights near international borders, potentially affecting block times on several domestic routes.
Source: The Print
