IndiGo Flight 6E-2045’s Unplanned Return: Blackout Disrupts Amritsar Travel
Packed with passengers hoping to reach Amritsar after days of travel disruptions, IndiGo’s Flight 6E-2045 set out from Delhi on the evening of May 12, 2025, only to find itself reversing course mid-air. Just half an hour after takeoff, the flight was informed of a sudden and strict blackout in Amritsar, and the captain was forced to reroute the Airbus A320neo back to its departure point. The incident wasn’t just an ordinary diversion — it unfolded against the tense backdrop of increasing security threats in Punjab.
Only hours earlier, authorities in Amritsar, Pathankot, and Hoshiarpur had issued red alerts. The reason? There were worrying reports of drone movement close to sensitive military locations — not a minor concern in a region already skittish from recent military tensions. The Amritsar airport, notably, had only just reopened on May 12 after a five-day shutdown triggered by similar incident anxiety. Airlines and passengers alike were hoping for some normality, but the sudden blackout order brought everything crashing back to uncertainty.
The blackout was as intense as it was broad: Amritsar residents were told to switch off all lights, draw curtains, and avoid windows. The goal wasn’t just secrecy — it was active protection. Security sources didn’t mince words about the seriousness of the suspected drone sightings, which are notoriously hard to trace and can be used for anything from surveillance to far worse. While it’s not unusual to see temporary air restrictions in such situations, the quick scale of the response in Punjab marked a sharp escalation.
On social media, Amritsar’s Deputy Commissioner was quick to reassure everyone: the blackout wasn’t in response to any direct incident, but a “precautionary” step given the military context and unconfirmed drone threats. For people on the ground it meant darkened city streets and tense silence; for those in the air, like the passengers aboard Flight 6E-2045, it meant an unexpected trip straight back to Delhi under a cloud of uncertainty. The aircraft safely touched down at 9:15 PM, its journey to Amritsar cut short before it could even begin.
Wider Impact: Disruptions Across Northern Airports and Aviation
The aviation dominoes didn’t stop with this one flight. IndiGo announced cancellations to key northern destinations—Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Jammu—on May 13. The broader restrictions were a direct response to the military’s cautious stance, putting a hold on both inbound and outbound flights, and causing a ripple effect for travelers just trying to make it home or do business in Punjab’s vital cities.
Pilots and airlines had little control over the fast-moving scenario. Airport officials and ground staff scrambled to update schedules and inform hundreds of affected passengers, many of whom had already coped with the recent extended airport shutdown. Hotels filled up quickly with travelers left in limbo, and stories spread of families unable to reunite after weeks apart. All eyes turned to news from security agencies, waiting for the all-clear that never seemed to arrive.
Even after the initial blackout, authorities maintained high alert levels, scanning skies for signs of further suspicious activity. Punjab’s military installations have long been guarded, but the rise in unmanned drone sightings—especially those without clear origin—has forced both local officers and aviation authorities to react faster than ever before. It’s a challenging mix: balancing the needs of civilian travel with the unpredictable pace of modern security threats.
Pressed for answers, airline spokespeople cited IndiGo’s commitment to passenger safety as their top priority. Most affected travelers, while frustrated, seemed to understand the stakes. As the sun rose over Punjab, no one knew when travel would return to normal—or when, and if, the region could shrug off the persistent shadow of aerial threats.
