Chinese Military Aircraft Allegedly Violates Indian Airspace Over Sikkim, Remains for Up to 25 Minutes

India: A Chinese military aircraft allegedly entered Indian airspace over the northeastern state of Sikkim on November 12, 2026, and remained in the area for approximately 20 to 25 minutes, according to a report by Indian media outlet Outlook India.

According to the report, the Indian Air Force detected the aircraft at around 8:00 am while it was flying at an altitude of approximately 25,000 feet. Indian authorities reportedly issued repeated warnings, asking the aircraft to turn back towards its own airspace. However, the aircraft allegedly continued to remain in the area for several minutes.

The reported incident took place near the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as the "Chicken's Neck", a narrow stretch of Indian territory connecting the country's northeastern states with the rest of India.

The corridor holds significant strategic and military importance for New Delhi because of its geographical location and proximity to the borders of China, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan.

The Indian Air Force and defence authorities have not officially confirmed the reported airspace violation so far. Outlook India said it had contacted the Air Force for clarification and was awaiting an official response at the time of publication.

The type of Chinese aircraft involved, its exact flight path and the precise time it left the reported airspace intrusion area remain unclear.

The report has triggered discussions in Indian political and defence circles, particularly amid renewed attention to Chinese military activities along the disputed Himalayan frontier.