Imphal: Flight operations at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal were briefly suspended on Monday afternoon after an unidentified drone was spotted near the flight path, prompting a security alert.
Airport officials said an IndiGo flight arriving from Agartala reported the sighting around 2 pm while on its final approach to the runway.
The drone was observed hovering at an altitude of around 3,600 to 4,000 feet on the city side of the airport.
As a precaution, authorities temporarily halted all incoming and outgoing flights until security agencies completed a thorough check of the area.
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“Operations resumed only after police and security officials cleared the airspace,” an airport official said.
The airport administration later issued a public advisory warning against flying drones in and around Imphal city, Nambol, and Bishnupur, citing the serious threat such activities pose to aircraft safety.
“Unauthorised drone operations near airports are strictly prohibited and will attract legal action under existing aviation laws,” the statement added.
