When Airspace Rules Blur: Why AI-479’s Brief Deviation into Pakistan Triggered a DGCA Probe

A bird strike at Amritsar airport forced a dramatic detour for an Air India flight, landing the crew and air traffic controllers under the scanner of aviation regulators.

The cockpit of Air India flight AI-479 was already facing a high-pressure situation on June 22, 2026. While approaching Amritsar, the Airbus A321 (VT-PPV) was forced into a ‘go-around’ after a bird strike was reported on the runway, necessitating a sudden shift in flight path. What followed was a complex sequence of radar vectoring by Air Traffic Control (ATC) that inadvertently pushed the aircraft into Pakistani airspace, a move that has now drawn sharp scrutiny from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

While the incident has prompted a flurry of reports across multiple outlets—often confusing the narrative—the primary source of the technical breakdown comes directly from the DGCA’s investigation. The agency confirmed that the aircraft entered the neighboring country’s airspace during the re-approach maneuver. Despite the sensitivities surrounding cross-border airspace, the DGCA clarified that the situation was managed through coordination with Pakistani ATC authorities, ensuring the safety of the passengers on board.

The Chain of Command Under Scrutiny

The fallout from this incident isn't just about a flight path deviation; it is about the breakdown of operational precision. Following the bird strike incident, the decision-making process involving ATC vectoring and the crew’s adherence to standard operating procedures is being re-evaluated. The DGCA has signaled that accountability will be enforced for the lapse, as the aircraft was ultimately diverted back to Delhi instead of attempting a second landing in Amritsar.

Reporting by journalists like Rahul Kumar has highlighted that while the flight landed safely in the capital, the breach of protocol is being treated with gravity. The fact that the plane briefly entered a restricted zone—especially given the historically strained air corridor relations—serves as a reminder of how quickly routine domestic flights can become international diplomatic headaches.

Why it matters: The bigger picture

This episode exposes the fragility of air traffic management in high-density or incident-prone zones. When a runway is compromised by a bird strike, the margin for error during a go-around maneuver becomes razor-thin. For the aviation industry, this incident highlights a recurring concern: how well-equipped are our ground-level controllers and flight crews to handle unexpected, high-stress variables without compromising international boundaries?

The DGCA’s intervention is a necessary signal to the industry that “coordination” after the fact is not a substitute for precise navigation during the event. While the passengers were never in immediate danger, the regulatory response serves as a warning that in the cockpit, there is no room for geographical ambiguity, regardless of the pressure from the control tower.