On the evening of May 12, an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Amritsar was forced to make an emergency U-turn mid-air after a sudden blackout was reimposed at
On the evening of May 12, an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Amritsar was forced to make an emergency U-turn mid-air after a sudden blackout was reimposed at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar. Flight 6E 2045, operated by an Airbus A320neo, took off from Terminal 1D in Delhi at 8:26 PM, running 16 minutes behind schedule. The flight was one of the first commercial operations planned to resume service at Amritsar airport following its closure during Operation Sindoor. After approximately 30 minutes of flight time, the plane made a sharp U-turn and safely landed back in Delhi at 9:21 PM, surprising many passengers and aviation authorities alike.
Though Amritsar airport was among the 32 airports cleared for reopening by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) earlier that day, local authorities reimposed a blackout around 9:00 PM, reportedly after the sighting of a suspicious drone over Punjab airspace. This unexpected security move came just as civil operations were set to resume, throwing the aviation schedule into chaos. While sources in the Civil Aviation Ministry confirmed the abrupt change, passengers and crew onboard Flight 6E 2045 were left in limbo. The blackout is believed to be connected to ongoing aerial surveillance in the region following India’s military actions under Operation Sindoor, keeping air defense systems and airports in northern India on high alert.
In response to continued operational instability and airspace sensitivity, IndiGo announced late Monday night that all its flights to and from six major northern cities — Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Rajkot, and Chandigarh — will be cancelled on Tuesday, 13 May. The airline attributed the decision to operational safety and airspace restrictions, even though the Civil Aviation Ministry later stated that “all restrictions north of Delhi were lifted by 10:50 PM.” This cautious approach by IndiGo highlights the uncertainty that continues to plague flight paths in proximity to conflict-sensitive regions, especially amid drone threats and the lingering effects of post-strike surveillance activity.
Adding to the airspace tension, a FlightAware report revealed that Air Arabia flight G9 466, en route from Delhi to Sharjah, was forced to re-route to avoid the Amritsar–Lahore corridor. The aircraft eventually reached its destination 55 minutes behind schedule, reflecting the broader regional disruptions impacting both domestic and international flights. Authorities confirmed that one surveillance drone was shot down in Punjab, prompting security protocols that included the blackout. These drone sightings raise fresh concerns about border security, terrorism-linked surveillance, and aerial sabotage, all of which have become heightened areas of concern after Operation Sindoor.
The events of May 12 illustrate the fragile transition back to normalcy for air travel in North India. While official agencies claim that all airspace restrictions have been lifted, airlines are proceeding with caution, prioritizing passenger safety over commercial pressure. The abrupt U-turn of Flight 6E 2045 and IndiGo’s blanket cancellations point to a new aviation reality shaped by geopolitical risks, unmanned aerial threats, and shifting military-civil coordination. For passengers, this means keeping a close eye on flight updates and preparing for sudden changes. As India’s skies adjust to the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, aviation stability remains a work in progress.
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Source : newindianexpress.com
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