An IndiGo flight from Amritsar to Ahmedabad strayed into Pakistani airspace for approximately half an hour on Saturday before heading back into Indian airspace due to bad weather. The incident took place at around 7:30 pm due to bad weather conditions with the plane going up to Gujranwala (close to Lahore). According to Pakistan media reports, it eventually returned to India at 8:01 pm. In May, a Pakistan International Airlines flight entered Indian airspace and stayed there for nearly 10 minutes due to heavy rainfall in Pakistan.
According to officials, it was not unusual as it was internationally allowed in bad weather conditions, the report added. Several flights heading to Lahore were also diverted to Islamabad on Saturday due to ‘poor visibility’.
According to data from flight tracking websites, the IndiGo flight had entered north of Lahore with a ground speed of 454 knots. The plane had deviated from its route soon after takeoff from Amritsar at 7:45 pm. The IndiGo flight travelled over Gujranwala and formed a wide loop around Lahore before it eventually returned to Indian airspace near the Sri Muktsar Sahib City in Punjab.
Earlier in May this year, a Pakistan International Airlines flight entered Indian airspace and stayed there for nearly 10 minutes due to heavy rainfall in Pakistan. The flight, PK248, was returning from Muscat on May 4 and was attempting to land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. However, heavy rainfall made it difficult for the pilot to land the Boeing 777 aircraft.