An Air India Airbus A321 operating Flight AI-463 on the Delhi–Amritsar route briefly entered Pakistani airspace on Monday night after a technical malfunction disrupted its navigation system, official sources said.
The flight departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport at 9:18 PM and soon encountered a navigation issue that caused it to drift westward across the International Border. Pakistani Air Traffic Control quickly alerted the crew, who immediately corrected the course and re-entered Indian airspace.
However, the aircraft later faced further operational challenges as Amritsar airport reported heavy traffic congestion. With no immediate landing slot available, the flight was instructed to return to Delhi, where it landed safely for inspection.
After technical checks and clearance, the aircraft took off again and successfully landed in Amritsar at around 2:20 AM on Tuesday, nearly four hours behind schedule.
Aviation authorities have launched a routine investigation into the incident. No official statement has yet been issued by Air India or the DGCA regarding the exact nature of the navigation failure.
The incident comes weeks after a similar case involving a Pakistan International Airlines aircraft that briefly crossed into Indian airspace due to weather-related deviation.
