Flight operations at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal came to a halt for nearly four hours on Sunday due to the presence of an unidentified object hovering above the airport. The object, detected at 2:30 pm, prompted alerts to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Indian Air Force (IAF), and other authorities. It finally departed around 4:30 pm, and flights resumed at 6:20 pm after receiving clearance from both DGCA and IAF.
During the incident, two flights were diverted, and three departing flights faced delays. Airport director Chipemmi Keishing acknowledged the mystery object, visible to everyone at the airport, but expressed uncertainty about its nature, whether a drone, UFO, or something else. Keishing emphasized adherence to standard operating procedures, requiring a suspension of flight operations when an unidentified object is observed near an airport.
Keishing highlighted that the IAF conducted airspace scans and granted clearance, followed by DGCA approval, allowing the resumption of flight operations. Despite the high altitude of the object, it remained out of shooting range from the ground, providing a resolution to the unusual situation.
Post Your Comments