Overview
- Airport Director Anirudh Kumar Sharma confirmed late Sunday that suspected drone-like objects were seen near the runway, prompting Air Traffic Control to suspend operations from about 9:50 pm until 11:15 pm.
- Seven incoming aircraft were diverted as a safety precaution, with two sent to Chandigarh and five to Delhi; the affected services included flights from Malaysia Airlines, IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express.
- The Indian Air Force reported the sightings to ATC, a Joint Action Committee was activated in the control tower, and airport security forces followed standard operating procedures for drone incidents.
- Operations were declared normal after the committee assessed the situation and most diverted flights returned, though at least one Air India service was cancelled and one international flight was expected to arrive later.
- Police and security agencies are investigating whether the objects were flown locally or have a cross-border origin, a concern given past drone-borne smuggling into Punjab and the airport's proximity to the India–Pakistan border.