Despite best efforts of all agencies, the security for PM Manmohan Singh’s visit was ‘breached’ barely minutes before his plane was to
land at Chandigarh airport on Tuesday, leaving the line of dignitaries and top brass of security organisations with their heart in their mouth.
As they watched in horror, the four-legged threat bounded uncaring across the tarmac, near the dispersal area where the PM’s plane was to land. Though the ground crew swung into action, the animal was too swift for them. Fortunately for everybody, it scampered away without causing any damage.
Shrugging off any responsibility, an airport official said the Indian Air Force (IAF) was responsible for the security arrangements at the airport. No IAF official was, however, available for comments.
According to a retired defence officer, in case of such a happening, the air traffic controller warns his crew, who are supposed to shoo off the animal or even shoot it if required. And if the animal is right in the aircraft’s path, he is supposed to tell the pilot to not land.
This is also not the first instance of an animal streaking across the runway after crossing the airfield perimeter fence, with sambars and blue bulls being spotted several times in the past.
Such instances also don’t just occur in India. In February, Miami international airport?s security were involved in an hour-long pursuit on thetarmac of a German shepherd-chow mix, that entered the restricted area through a gate.
The canine jogged through a cargo area and under a jumbo jet, with at least one inbound 747 aircraft preparing to land amid the cat and mouse chase.
SUDEEP SINGH
PGDM IIISEM
SEC-B
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