Unknown Flying Object Affects Flight Services in Manipur
On Sunday afternoon, routine operations at Imphal International Airport in Manipur were thrown into disarray as officials reported the sighting of an unidentified flying object (UFO). The incident disrupted normal aircraft activities, forcing the rerouting of two planes and causing delays for three others. The situation persisted for approximately three hours before services returned to their usual operations.
The IAF Eastern Air Command, upon receiving visual inputs from Imphal Airport, activated its Air Defence response mechanism. However, the unidentified object disappeared shortly thereafter, leaving authorities perplexed.
A statement from Airport Director Chipemmi Keishing highlighted the impact on flight operations: "Due to the sighting of an unidentified flying object within Imphal controlled airspace, two flights have been diverted and three departing flights have been delayed. Flight operations recommence after clearance is received from the competent authority."
An Air Traffic Control (ATC) officer revealed that around 2:30 p.m., they received communication from the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) notifying them about the UFO near the airport. The mysterious object remained visible to the naked eye, moving westwards of the airfield until 4 p.m.
Among the affected flights was an Indigo flight from Calcutta, initially instructed to "hold overhead" before being redirected to Guwahati after a 25-minute delay. The delayed flights eventually took off from Imphal Airport three hours later, following the necessary clearance.
The incident drew the attention of the Indian Air Force Eastern Command in Shillong, which was promptly informed of the unusual occurrence. Situated near the international border with Myanmar to the east, Manipur shares borders with Nagaland, Mizoram, and Assam. The nature of the unidentified flying object remains a mystery, leaving authorities and aviation officials intrigued by the unexplained disruption at Imphal International Airport.
