Overview
- Airport Director Anirudh Kumar Sharma said the Indian Air Force alerted air traffic control to two to four suspected drones late Sunday, prompting an immediate shutdown of landings and activation of airport emergency procedures.
- Operations were suspended from about 9:50 pm to 11:15 pm, seven incoming flights were diverted to Delhi and Chandigarh, five of those returned later and one Air India flight was cancelled.
- A Joint Action Committee convened in the control tower and security teams including the CISF and Punjab Police conducted perimeter sweeps before declaring the runway safe and resuming normal operations.
- Authorities say the origin and intent of the drone‑like objects remain unestablished and a multiagency investigation is under way to recover any equipment and trace operators.
- Officials point to past cases of drones used for smuggling across the India–Pakistan border as a reason for heightened vigilance, and investigators will look for evidence that could confirm either recreational misuse or a cross‑border link.