Drone scare near Amritsar airport: AI flight sent back to Delhi, IndiGo diverted
Flights at Amritsar airport were diverted or returned to origin following reports of unauthorized drone activity near the facility. Authorities are investigating the incident, which is suspected to be linked to a local sports tournament.
Why it matters
It underscores the increasing security risks posed by unregulated drone usage near critical infrastructure and high-security zones.
AMRITSAR: Two flights were diverted after suspected drone activity was reported near Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport in Amritsar around 9.40pm on Sunday, prompting authorities to temporarily shut the airspace as a precautionary measure, said Anirudh Sharma, in-charge of Air Traffic Control (ATC).Sharma said Air India flight AI-855, arriving from Delhi, was sent back to Delhi, while IndiGo flight 6E-5028, arriving from Mumbai, was diverted to Chandigarh.The airspace was closed around 9.50pm after information was received about the movement of two to three drones near the airport. Flight operations resumed around 11.15pm following a security review.The incident left several passengers stranded, with some reportedly protesting over the lack of information from officials.A preliminary police investigation indicated that the drones might have been flown to videograph a sports tournament, reportedly a kabaddi competition, in a nearby village.
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