Imphal/New Delhi: The controlled airspace of Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal experienced a temporary shutdown on Sunday, disrupting commercial flight operations for nearly three hours. The closure was initiated following the sighting of an unidentified flying object, according to sources in the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
At 2.30 pm, the Imphal air traffic control (ATC) received a call from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) control room reporting an unidentified flying object just above the ATC tower. The object, observed to be white in color, traversed over the terminal building, lingered southwards above the ATC tower, and then moved southwest of the runway before disappearing at 4.05 pm.
In response to the sighting, an IndiGo A320 flying from Kolkata to Imphal was instructed to maintain a holding pattern until clearance was obtained from security agencies, including CISF, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Indian Air Force (IAF), and local law enforcement. The flight, carrying 173 passengers, was eventually diverted to Guwahati at 3.03 pm.
Similarly, a Delhi-Imphal IndiGo flight with 183 passengers on board was diverted to Kolkata at 4.05 pm.
The ATC and airport authorities promptly alerted various agencies, including the IAF, BCAS, and local law enforcement. The Eastern Air Command initiated a scan of the Imphal airspace from 3.55 pm to 5.35 pm. Following a thorough assessment, the airspace was declared clear, and normal operations at Imphal airport resumed at 5.50 pm.
The incident led to a temporary hold on all airport operations, with a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing the airspace closure. The NOTAM was later canceled after receiving clearance from relevant authorities.
The Eastern Air Command stated that it activated its air defense response mechanism based on visual inputs from Imphal airport, but the small object was not sighted thereafter.
The BCAS regional director in Imphal, the DGCA director of air safety in Kolkata, and the Joint Action Centre committee comprising Manipur officials subsequently gave the green light for the resumption of operations at 5.45 pm.
The nature of the unidentified flying object remains undisclosed, leaving authorities and the public intrigued by the unusual incident.