An Air India flight operating between Delhi and Amritsar briefly entered Pakistani airspace on Monday night after reportedly experiencing a technical issue that caused it to deviate from its planned route. The aircraft later returned to Indian airspace and completed its journey safely after a delay of several hours.

The incident involved an Airbus AI-321 that departed Delhi for Amritsar. According to airport officials, the aircraft took off at 9:18 pm, a few minutes behind schedule, and was expected to reach its destination around 10:30 pm.

During the flight, a technical malfunction reportedly affected the aircraft’s navigation path, causing it to drift away from its designated route. Aviation sources said the deviation resulted in the aircraft briefly entering Pakistani airspace before the situation was identified.

The pilot was alerted after receiving communication from Pakistani air traffic authorities regarding the unexpected route deviation. Following the warning, corrective action was taken and the aircraft was brought back into Indian airspace.

By the time the flight returned towards Amritsar, operational conditions at the airport had changed. Increased air traffic and runway congestion reportedly prevented an immediate landing.

Sources at the airport said the aircraft remained airborne for an extended period while awaiting clearance. Air Traffic Control later instructed the flight to return to Delhi instead of continuing its landing approach at Amritsar.

The aircraft subsequently landed safely in the national capital. After undergoing the necessary checks and operational clearance, the flight departed again for Amritsar. It eventually landed at its destination at approximately 2:20 am, nearly four hours later than originally scheduled.

Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the exact nature of the technical fault that led to the route deviation. Officials are expected to examine flight data and communication records as part of the inquiry.

An official associated with airport operations explained that aircraft are sometimes required to enter holding patterns or face diversions due to runway availability, weather conditions or traffic congestion. In this case, the delay caused by the technical issue coincided with increased movement at Amritsar Airport, limiting landing opportunities for the incoming aircraft.

Despite the unexpected diversion and prolonged delay, no injuries or safety concerns were reported among passengers or crew members. Airport authorities stated that operations remained under control throughout the incident.

The development has drawn attention because it comes shortly after another cross-border airspace deviation involving a Pakistani carrier. Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Fly Jinnah flight 9P514 reportedly strayed into Indian airspace after encountering adverse weather conditions shortly after departing Lahore. The aircraft later corrected its route and returned to Pakistani airspace.

The latest Air India incident also adds to a series of aviation-related events reported in northern India over the past year. These include an emergency evacuation following a power bank explosion aboard an IndiGo flight at Chandigarh Airport and a precautionary landing by an Indian Air Force Apache helicopter in Punjab due to a technical issue.

While authorities have stressed that passenger safety was never compromised during Monday’s incident, the investigation is expected to focus on how the aircraft deviated from its assigned route and whether additional safeguards may be required to prevent similar occurrences in the future.