Airport UFO hazily identified

Free Thinker *

Our Bir Tikendrajit International Airport (please don’t go by the name – it has no international flights) was in the news a few days back. In fact, we were really happy to hear the news that one UFO appeared just above the Imphal Airport. It became a stunning news all around.

After many months we have got amazing news that we are in touch with the aliens. The unidentified flying object was hovering above for almost 3 hours. It may be assumed that we are at least taken care of by the aliens.

The news flashed in local, national, and global TV channels. It spread in print and social media too – adding attractive pictures and captions. The ground reality was - an unidentified flying object flying above the Imphal International Airport had obstructed the landing and taking off of Aeroplanes for three hours.

As per local newspaper reports the unidentified flying object became visible to the naked eye at around 2.30 pm of 19 November 2023. It was up in the sky for about 3 hours. Due to this, 2 flights were diverted and three flights were delayed.

Normal flights were resumed only after 6 pm on the same day. The prominent passengers who suffered inconveniences due to this dislocation included Chief Justice of our High Court, popular film star Kaiku , renowned film critic K.Meghachandra and some ‘faltu’ leaders and genuine citizens.

According to Wikipedia UFO is an unidentified flying object or unidentified anomalous phenomenon, or any perceived aerial phenomenon that cannot be immediately identified or explained. Upon investigation, most UFOs are identified as known objects or atmospheric phenomena, while a small number remain unexplained.

It could be a small UAV , an unmanned aerial vehicle - with no human operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift, can fly automatically or be piloted remotely.

One intelligent fellow said it could be a Chinese spy balloon. These days they are in the habit of using such technologies. They did it twice a few months back in the United States. The US government blamed the Chinese intelligence for such misadventures. If I remember correctly there was no reaction from the Chinese authorities. But the Americans strongly believe that it was done by them.

Here also the local people believe that it was perhaps done by some miscreants to spread panic among the people .Drones and UAVs can be used or misused by anyone. It is really surprising that our international Airport has no powerful binoculars. The flying object appeared during day time and it could have been easily identified and reported upon immediately for instant necessary action.

Many are investigating the incident. But it could have been settled then and there if we were having a reasonably good binocular or even by a telescopic zoom camera. Some individuals captured it through their mobile phones. The zooming power of mobile phones is limited. Though limited it was made quite visible – a twinkling star-like object was hovering above the Airport.

Whether it was a UFO or UAV or Drone – let the competent authority come to a conclusion. But for a common man – it is worrisome because we normally travel by Air since we have no train services (passenger) and our bus journeys have become increasingly unsafe due to the prolonged ethnic tension.

The first pilotless vehicles were developed in Britain and the USA during the First World War. However it was never used during the war. Much later reconnaissance UAVs were used in the Vietnam War. Drones were deployed for dropping arms, explosives, leaflets etc. Since 9/11 the USA has started using drones more intensely for surveillance.

Meanwhile we come to know that at the Indo-Pak borders the drones are used to carry out smuggling for drugs and arms. Obviously, it is too dangerous. The Indo- Myanmar border is not so developed but the necessity might bring about changes here too - because the Free Movement Regime is now made defunct due to the on-going ethnic clashes and fluid security scenario at the border.

Sometime back in Nagaland , some people tried to use drones for the delivery of essential items in the inaccessible hill areas .

But it was disallowed by the security forces for security reasons. We can understand the sensibilities of the security forces but the utility of such services can’t be ruled out in a hilly terrain where there is tremendous bottleneck for transport and communication. Drones may be allowed to be used at least for delivering medicines and essential items like medicines, ‘ngari’ and drinks.

According to a very highly localized and unauthenticated report the UFO in question was nothing but a 3-Idiots type drone created by Rancho type techno savvy boys. It was launched to prove their prowess. Such technology may be used benevolently for local distribution and essential supply – if not shot down by airgun or catapult. It may be treated as a prank by some naughty boys.

In future such impish and irresponsible behaviour will be dealt with seriously either by Rifle or Rafale.