UFO sighting over airport throws several flights out of schedule
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 19 2023:
An unidentified flying object hovering in high altitude within the controlled airspace of Bir Tikendrajit International Airport sent the airport authority and Indian Air Force on high alert and delayed several flights for more than 3 hours today.
The unidentified flying object (UFO) was sighted at around 2.30 pm.
This prompted the airport authority to divert two incoming flights and delay three others.
All flight operations were cancelled and the passenger aircrafts which were ready for take off sat on the runway for hours waiting for the green signal.
In a statement, AAI, Imphal Airport Director Chipemmi Keishing said due to the sighting of an unidentified flying object within the Imphal controlled airspace, two flights have been diverted and three departing flights have been delayed.
Flight operations resumed after 6 pm.
Even as the airport was on high alert, the tension among the people and the passengers was compounded as the unidentified flying object was sighted in a high security area amid the ethnic conflict prevailing in the State.
According to some passengers of a Guwahati bound Indigo flight, they said their aircraft was on the runway for take off when the captain made a sudden announcement about delaying the take off at around 2.30 pm.
The Air Traffic Control Room had detected an unidentified flying object hovering over its airspace.
After a gap of some 20 minutes, another announcement was made for further delaying the flight saying the Air Traffic Control had not given the go ahead signal.
While the passengers on board the flight were given free snacks and tea, they were informed that two aircrafts of the Indian Air Force had started monitoring the flying object.
Fearing breach of security by the UFO, the airport authority diverted incoming flights from New Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati.
Reportedly, High Court of Manipur Chief Justice Siddharth Mridul was on board a flight from New Delhi which took off for Imphal.
Judicial Officers of the High Court of Manipur were also seen present at the airport to receive the Chief Justice.
Soon after the incident, the Deputy Commissioner of Imphal West, Superintendent of Police and other high ranking officers of both civil and police arrived at the airport and had a long discussion regarding the incident.
Renowned actor turned politician RK Somendro, popularly known as Kaiku also had his daughter on board a flight for Guwahati.
The flight was scheduled for takeoff at around 2.30 pm but it hasn't taken off, he said.
"This matter (involving the UFO) should not be taken lightly as Imphal Airport is recognized as an International Airport.
It should be considered a big threat and concern.
The State Government and Airport authority should investigate the matter seriously so that such incidents never happen again.
The incident today has caused psychological fear among the general public," RK Somendro said.
One of the passengers stated he has a job appointment tomorrow and he may lose his job if he misses it.
As the airspace was closed and flights were delayed and diverted, many passengers rescheduled their flights for another day and returned home.
After long hours of waiting, the airport received the clearance and flight operations resumed at around 6 pm.
Indigo flight from Imphal to Delhi, Indigo flight from Imphal to Patna via Kolkata and Air India Express from Imphal to Guwahati took off one after another from 6.15 pm .
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