UAO prompts four-hour shutdown of Airport
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 19 2023: Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Imphal experienced a shutdown for approximately four hours on Sunday afternoon due to a high alert triggered by sighting of a high-altitude unidentified aerial object (UAO) suspected to be a drone within its controlled airspace.

The incident led to diversion and delay of numerous incoming and outgoing flights.

Three scheduled departures from Imphal to Agartala (Indigo 6E-525), Guwahati (Air India AI-890), and Kolkata (Air India AI-734) were suspended until 6 pm.

In addition, two incoming flights from Delhi (Indigo 6E-5118) and Kolkata (Indigo 6E-275) were redirected to Kolkata and Guwahati.

The departure of a flight from Guwahati to Imphal (Air India Express 792), originally set for 3.50 pm, was also delayed until 6.50 pm.

CISF personnel first spotted the object at around 2 pm, prompting a halt in operations.

Approximately 500 passengers were stranded as a result.

Airport Traffic Control (ATC), district SP, and state police control room were notified, and on-duty security personnel were put on high alert.

ATC Imphal reported the situation to the Indian Air Force base in Shillong for tracking and identification of the object.

The identity of the object remains unclear, but upon receiving a report from the Airport Authority of India, Imphal, a specialised team from the Indian Air Force arrived at Imphal Airport to assess the situation.

Normal flight operations resumed at 5.50 pm after the IAF cleared the airspace for commercial use.

In an official statement, Chipemmi Keishing, the airport director of Imphal International Airport, confirmed that two flights were diverted and three departing flights were delayed due to the sighting of an unidentified flying object within Imphal controlled airspace.

Flight operations recommenced following clearance from the competent authority.

Sources indicated that the unidentified flying object hovered within the Imphal Airport's airspace for over two hours, before moving towards the western side and finally disappearing as IAF teams began tracing it.

An official investigation into the incident has been launched by the Indian Air Force.

Senior officials from Imphal West district police also visited Imphal Airport to investigate the matter.

As of now, there is no official confirmation regarding the identity, nature, or origin of the drone-like object.

It is worth noting that Imphal International Airport has been in the spotlight since the onset of ethnic conflict between the Meetei and Kuki communities on May 3 last.

Previous incidents include the alteration of an airline ticket counter's address within the airport premises to Lamka and a public demonstration in the national capital where Kuki leaders called for the control and capture of Imphal Airport as part of their strategy.

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