‘The truth is out there’: New Delhi airport spooked by UFOs

Indian Air Force, security agencies on high alert after sightings of suspicious flying objects

NEW DELHI: India’s air force and security agencies guarding New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport were placed on high alert on Saturday after unidentified flying objects (UFOs) were reported in and around the facility.

According to Hindustan Times, an officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) deputed at the airport’s air traffic control (ATC) tower observed ‘suspicious’ flying objects thrice on Friday morning.

“A member of the IAF who sits at the ATC tower of Delhi airport first noticed a flying object over runway 9-27 at 10:44am,” the daily quoted an airport official as saying. “He reported two more objects at 10:50am and 10:55am, flying outside the airport boundary.”

Quoting sources, the paper said the IAF even pressed a chopper into action to check the flying object. But the helicopter could not find anything.

According to the official, an ATC staffer had also claimed seeing a drone-like object at the airport on Tuesday but could not support his claim with any evidence.

The pilot of a flight from Bhubaneswar had also complained of being distracted by a laser beam while landing at the airport Wednesday night, according to Hindustan Times.

“This is alarming. The ATC radar couldn’t capture anything on Tuesday. On Friday, some staff claimed that the radar had captured a flying object. But later we found no evidence,” the official was quoted as saying.

“No one is sure what is happening. But we have put everyone on alert as we do not want to take any risks, especially with the VIP movements due to the India-Africa Forum Summit,” he added.

Prompted by the sightings, the IAF has been authorised to shoot down any suspicious objects if need be. According to Hindustan Times report, the Central Industrial Security Force, which provides airport security, has also been asked to keep a watch.

Officials of India’s civil aviation ministry played down the reports of suspicious aerial activity. According to them, several marriage halls lie within the vicinity of the airport, which could explain the laser beam reported by the pilot. Although the use of laser beams near the airport is prohibited by law, these are still often used in celebrations, they said. The marriage season in India is at its peak. Some months ago, the pilot of a Cathay Pacific flight had also complained he was distracted by lasers while landing at the airport.

“In any case, a UFO could be a bird or a plane or even Superman,” remarked one civil aviation official in jest when asked about the reports.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2015.