An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Amritsar was diverted back to Delhi mid-flight on Monday night after local authorities in Amritsar imposed a precautionary blackout in the city, according to official reports. The aircraft, operating as flight 6E2045, had departed Delhi that evening but turned around before reaching Amritsar once the lights-out order came into effect around 8:45 pm. Officials noted that the return was a preventive measure taken out of “abundant caution” amid a security alert in the area.

Authorities in Amritsar had sounded sirens and instructed residents to switch off all lights and remain indoors calmly when implementing the blackout. The Amritsar Deputy Commissioner announced that the step was an emergency precaution taken “by way of abundant caution,” advising people not to panic as officials assessed the situation. The alert was reportedly prompted by security concerns after drone sightings were reported in parts of Punjab and Jammu earlier that evening.

Later on Monday night, IndiGo announced that it was cancelling all flights on Tuesday, May 13, to and from six cities — Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh, Srinagar, and Rajkot — as a precaution. The advisory was posted on social media around 11:38 pm, with IndiGo telling customers that the step was taken “in light of the latest developments and with your safety as our utmost priority,” and that its teams were actively monitoring the situation.

Air India, the national carrier, similarly suspended flight services on May 13 to a number of airports in northern and western India as a security precaution. The airline issued an advisory on X (formerly Twitter) that flights connecting Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot were cancelled “in view of the latest developments and keeping your safety in mind,” and it promised to monitor the situation and keep the public.

Notably, these flight disruptions came even as aviation authorities had lifted flight restrictions in the region on Monday following a recent security scare. Both IndiGo and Air India opted to delay fully resuming operations despite the airspace reopening, owing to continuing security alerts and enhanced airspace monitoring in sensitive areas. Air India also indicated it would gradually restore flights at the affected airports as conditions return to normal.