Delhi-Amritsar Indigo flight turns back amid blackout measures

This comes two days after India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firing and military action — amid a major escalation in tensions — and on the day aviation authorities had reopened 32 airports in northern and western India for civil aircraft operations.

“Indigo airlines will resume its operations from Amritsar Airport as per the following details: Flight 6E 2045 will operate from Delhi to Amritsar today (Departure 20.00 hrs, Arrival 21.10 hrs),” a post on social media by the Amritsar Airport said.

“In light of the latest developments and with your safety as our utmost priority, flights to and from Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh, Srinagar, and Rajkot are cancelled for 13th May 2025,” Indigo posted on social media platform X at 11:38 pm.

At 8.45 pm, local authorities in Amritsar had ordered precautionary blackout measures. “You will hear a siren. We are on alert and initiating the blackout. Please switch off your lights and move away from your windows. Stay calm, we will inform when ready to restore the power supply. Don’t panic at all. This is by way of abundant caution,” a post on social media platform X by the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner said.

The initial decision to suspend operations at Amritsar and other northern and western airports was part of broader security and logistical measures undertaken due to the rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

Barring a few, the majority of these airports were located at defence airfields, with some seeing only a handful of commercial flights each day. The affected airports included Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ambala, Ludhiana, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Uttarlai, Rajkot, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Dharamshala, Bathinda, Patiala, Pathankot, Shimla, Kishangarh, Hindon, Porbandar, Mundra, and Kandla, among others.