Flight operations at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport in Amritsar were suspended for approximately 90 minutes on the night of September 6, 2026. This happened due to the sighting of unidentified drone-like objects near the operational area and runway. Here are the key details of the incident:
- Operations were suspended at approximately 9:50 p.m.
- Seven incoming flights were diverted to Delhi and Chandigarh.
- Normal operations resumed at 11:15 p.m. after a security review.
The incident prompted a high-security response involving the CISF, Punjab Police, and the airport's Joint Action Committee because the airport is close to the international border. Airport Director Anirudh Kumar Sharma provided details on the disruption. Seven incoming flights were diverted as a precautionary measure. Affected services included IndiGo flight 6E1428 and Air India Express flight IX138, both arriving from Sharjah, a Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur, and several domestic flights from Delhi and Mumbai. Following a review, the airport resumed normal operations at 11:15 p.m. Five of the seven diverted flights were able to return to Amritsar that same night.
Subsequent investigations by the Rajansansi Police determined that the drone activity was not related to any terror or cross-border security threat. Authorities identified that the device was being used for aerial videography during a sports tournament in a nearby village. However, the police noted that the airport is located within an eight-kilometer radius where drone flying is strictly prohibited by the district administration. Officials are now investigating who operated the drone and how they accessed the restricted zone, with potential legal action pending for rule violations.
