- India,
- 12-Oct-2026 09:35 AM IST
Flight operations at the Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar faced significant disruption late Sunday night following reports of suspicious drone activity in the vicinity. The incident, which occurred near the sensitive border region, prompted immediate security protocols, leading to the temporary suspension of runway operations and the diversion of three incoming flights to alternative airports, while the presence of unidentified flying objects near an international airport raised serious security concerns among the authorities and passengers alike.
Details of the Drone Sighting
According to the available information, the suspicious activity was first reported around 9:00 PM on Sunday night. Witnesses and security personnel spotted drone-like objects hovering in the sky near the village of Rajasansi, which is located in close proximity to the Amritsar airport. Reports indicate that there were approximately 2 to 3 suspicious drone-like objects seen flying in the airspace surrounding the airport premises. The sighting of these objects in a restricted zone led to an immediate state of panic and high alert among the airport staff and security agencies. The proximity of Rajasansi village to the airport makes any such aerial activity a major security breach, necessitating an immediate halt to all aviation activities.
Impact on Flight Operations and Diversions
As a direct consequence of the drone activity, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) and airport authorities decided to halt all landing and takeoff operations to ensure the safety of the aircraft and passengers. This decision resulted in the diversion of three major flights that were scheduled to land at Amritsar. The first affected flight was Air India flight AI-855, which was traveling from Delhi to Amritsar; it was ordered to return to Delhi. The second flight, IndiGo flight 6E-5028 coming from Mumbai, was diverted to Chandigarh. The airport manager at Chandigarh confirmed the diversion of this IndiGo flight 6E-5028. The third flight was an international service, Malaysia Airlines flight MH-118, which was arriving from Kuala Lumpur. This flight was diverted to the national capital, Delhi, while these diversions caused significant delays and inconvenience to hundreds of passengers on board these three flights.
Security Response and Restoration of Services
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel stationed at the airport were the first to notice the suspicious objects. Around 9:30 PM, the CISF jawans spotted 2 to 3 unidentified objects flying both inside the airport complex and in the sky just outside the perimeter. They immediately alerted the control room, triggering a comprehensive security review. The CISF personnel monitored the movement of these objects closely to determine if they posed a direct threat to the infrastructure. After a thorough investigation and ensuring that the airspace was clear and safe for operations, the authorities allowed the resumption of flight services. Normalcy was restored at the airport at approximately 10:15 PM, after which the diverted flights and other scheduled operations could proceed without further hindrance.
Recurring Security Challenges at Amritsar Airport
This isn't the first time that Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport has faced such security threats. A similar incident was reported just last month, in September, when drone activity was detected near the operational area of the airport. During that previous instance, between 2 and 4 suspicious drones were spotted near the runway. The Air Traffic Control had issued an alert immediately upon noticing the suspicious movements, leading to the diversion of 7 flights to Delhi and Chandigarh as a precautionary measure. The repeated occurrence of such incidents, involving 2 to 4 drones in September and 2 to 3 drones this Sunday, highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by the airport due to its geographical location and the increasing prevalence of unauthorized drone flights in the region.
