Suspected drones over Amritsar airport late Sunday forced a 90-minute airfield closure, diverting seven flights to Delhi and Chandigarh; operations are normal while police probe the sighting.
Cover image: The terminal of Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport, Amritsar, at night — photo by HJS Creations, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Suspected drones over Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport forced Amritsar to shut its airfield for about 90 minutes late on Sunday night, diverting seven incoming flights to Delhi and Chandigarh. Air traffic control received an Indian Air Force report around 9.45pm that drones had been spotted across the airfield while several arriving aircraft were circling. A joint action committee in the control tower ordered the airfield closed at about 9.50pm, and operations resumed at 11.15pm after no further activity was seen.
Airport Director Anirudh Kumar Sharma, who holds additional charge, confirmed the sighting and the precautionary closure. Early information suggested the objects came from the direction of Rudala village and hovered near the runway and other restricted zones for a few minutes. There is still no confirmation the craft were drones, and their exact origin is unclear.
Which Amritsar flights were diverted?
Five aircraft went to Delhi: Malaysia Airlines MH-118 from Kuala Lumpur, Air India AI-479 and AI-855 from Delhi, IndiGo 6E-1428 from Sharjah, and Air India Express IX-120 from Sharjah. Two IndiGo services went to Chandigarh: 6E-5028 from Mumbai and 6E-2045 from Delhi. The diversions came days after Delhi rain diversions that also pushed Amritsar-bound traffic around northern India, making this the second Sunday-to-Monday disruption in a week for Punjab-bound flyers.
After the 11.15pm reopening, five of the seven rerouted aircraft returned to Amritsar. One Air India service that had gone to Delhi was cancelled, while a Malaysia Airlines service was still expected to arrive, The Federal reported. Passengers on the cancelled service should seek rebooking or a refund from the airline.
How long was Amritsar airport shut?
The airfield was closed from about 9.50pm to 11.15pm on Sunday, roughly 90 minutes, with the joint action committee reassessing around 11pm before declaring operations open. Officials say services are now back to normal while police investigate the sighting. The closure window was short, but night-time diversions are expensive for airlines and disruptive for passengers with onward connections from Delhi and Chandigarh.
Why is a drone near Amritsar airport a big deal?
Amritsar is a border district and the airport operating zone is treated as highly sensitive, so any unidentified object near the runway triggers a full security response. The CISF, Punjab Police and central agencies were placed on heightened alert immediately after the ATC warning. A second Tribune report says officials held security discussions the next morning, a sign the incident is being treated as more than a false alarm.
Drone incursions near Indian airports are becoming a pattern, and each one tests response drills. Flyers should know that when a diversion happens for security reasons, airlines still owe care and rebooking, and India's airfare and passenger-rights rules are themselves before the Supreme Court this week. Keep boarding passes and receipts if a diversion costs you money.
Frequently asked questions
Why were flights diverted from Amritsar airport?
Suspected drones were reported across the airfield around 9.45pm on Sunday, September 6. As a precaution, ATC halted landings and shut the airfield for about 90 minutes, diverting seven incoming flights to Delhi and Chandigarh until the area was declared clear at 11.15pm.
Is Amritsar airport open now?
Yes. Officials say operations are back to normal while police investigate the sighting. Passengers flying in the coming days should still check flight status, since security alerts can recur and advisories may change at short notice.
What compensation applies for a diverted flight in India?
For security-driven diversions, airlines must typically provide rebooking or refunds plus care for stranded passengers, with exact obligations shaped by DGCA norms and the outcome of the Supreme Court's ongoing airfare-rules hearing. Always keep boarding passes, diversion slips and expense receipts.
