Flights stopped at Imphal airport for 3 hours after unidentified object spotted

The unidentified object was sighted around 2.30pm by security personnel stationed in the airport and an alert was sounded

Published on: Nov 19, 2023, 21:03:08 IST

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The operations of the normal flights to and from the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Manipur’s capital Imphal were affected for several hours on Sunday after an unidentified object was seen hovering in the sky.

The operations stopped for nearly three hours which affected three outbound flights and two flights bound for Imphal got diverted. (File Photo)

The object was sighted around 2.30pm by security personnel stationed in the airport. An alert was sounded and operations stopped for nearly three hours which affected three outbound flights and two flights bound for Imphal got diverted, officials said, requesting anonymity.

“Due to sighting of the unidentified object above the airport, flight operations remained suspended from 2.30pm to 5.50pm. In that duration, three flights leaving from Imphal were delayed and two in-bound flights were diverted,” said an airport official.

The three flights scheduled to depart from Imphal were meant for Agartala, Guwahati and Kolkata. Nearly 500 passengers of those three flights were stranded for over three hours. One flight to Imphal from New Delhi was diverted to Kolkata and another from Guwahati got delayed for over three hours.

The operations resumed in the evening after security clearance was given. Airport officials were unable to state what the flying object seen above the airport was. An inquiry is stated to be underway.

Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes between Meitei and tribal Kuki communities since May. The violence has resulted in at least 178 deaths and displaced around 50,000.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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