Drones Prompt Amritsar Airport Closure and Diversion of Seven Flights

Operations at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport in Amritsar were suspended on Sunday night after unauthorized drone activity was detected over the airfield, forcing seven incoming commercial flights to divert to alternative airports. The disruption began at approximately 9:50 pm local time after the Indian Air Force alerted Air Traffic Control to the presence of flying objects across the airspace.

The unexpected airspace closure lasted for nearly an hour and a half, scrambling emergency protocols and causing substantial delays for travelers on major international and domestic routes. Aviation authorities confirmed that five flights were diverted to New Delhi and two were sent to Chandigarh before normal operations resumed late Sunday night.

The security alert was initiated at approximately 9:42 pm when the Indian Air Force contacted Air Traffic Control regarding suspicious flying objects over the airfield. Amritsar Airport Director AK Sharma confirmed that several inbound aircraft were already holding near the airport area when the emergency warning was received.

In accordance with established protocols for aerial security breaches, a joint action committee comprising airport officials and security personnel was immediately convened in the control tower. After evaluating potential risks to incoming and departing aircraft, the committee ordered the temporary suspension of all runway operations to ensure passenger and crew safety.

Seven commercial flights holding near Amritsar were forced to alter their flight paths. Delhi airport officials reported receiving five of the diverted aircraft, which included two flights operated by Air India, two by IndiGo, and one by Air India Express, while two other planes touched down in Chandigarh.

Passengers experienced considerable uncertainty during the ordeal. One traveler aboard a Dubai-to-Amritsar flight described circling overhead before being redirected to New Delhi, while praising the flight crew for maintaining calm and providing continuous updates throughout the unexpected diversion.

Local law enforcement swiftly mobilized following the security breach, with officers from the Rajasansi police station dispatching teams to investigate the perimeter of the airfield. Station House Officer Gurpreet Singh confirmed that a formal First Information Report has been registered as inquiries into the incident get underway.

Investigators are actively examining whether the drones were connected to a local Kabaddi tournament held in nearby Jhajhoti village. Police noted that while the sports event took place during daylight hours, the drone sightings occurred at night, leaving authorities cautious about establishing an immediate link without conclusive evidence.

Following a comprehensive review by the joint committee at 11:00 pm, which confirmed that no further drones were spotted in the vicinity, the airfield was cleared to reopen at 11:15 pm. Five of the seven diverted aircraft subsequently returned to Amritsar to complete their journeys.

However, operational disruptions lingered into the following schedule. Airport Director AK Sharma noted that while most flights resumed normal rotations, one Air India service diverted to Delhi was ultimately canceled, and a Malaysia Airlines flight was rescheduled to arrive on Monday. In response to the breach, the district administration has instituted a strict ban on flying drones within an 8-kilometer radius of the airport.