A foreign airline flight traveling from Islamabad to Dubai briefly entered Indian airspace on Thursday morning after encountering severe weather conditions, according to airport officials.
Sources at Lahore airport reported that the aircraft deviated from its original flight path and crossed into Indian territory near the Sialkot-Narowal sector due to heavy rainfall and limited visibility in the Lahore air corridor.
In an effort to ensure passenger safety, the pilot diverted the flight toward Amritsar in search of clearer skies. The aircraft remained in Indian airspace for nearly 10 minutes before safely returning to Pakistani airspace under instructions from air traffic control.
“This type of short-term route deviation is standard during severe weather disturbances,” an airport official explained. “The safety of passengers and crew is always the primary concern, and the diversion was handled in full coordination with relevant air traffic control authorities.”
In a separate incident, a Saudi Airlines flight from Karachi to Jeddah was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff on Friday due to a technical issue, officials confirmed. Fortunately, all passengers and crew remained unharmed.
Sources stated that the aircraft had just departed from Jinnah International Airport when the pilot detected a technical fault. The captain immediately contacted Karachi Air Traffic Control and was granted permission to make an emergency landing.
A spokesperson for the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said that the pilot also dumped fuel as a safety measure after receiving an engine warning alert. Emergency protocols were activated by the airport administration, and all required safety services were placed on standby in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs).
