After panicking over advertising balloons that floated near the airport in May, the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) authorities have become cautious regarding any floating object noticed around or over the airfield. A balloon released by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) led to a similar panic last evening.
It all began at around 5 pm, when an ATC official noticed a white balloon hovering over the airfield. This balloon was seen near the Air India hangar following which officers at the Air Traffic Control (ATC) panicked. After observing the object at a critically lower level (balloons are usually not observed at such a low level), ATC officials then got in touch with IMD to check if they were aware of this balloon. An IMD official said, “It was not only the ATC officials who got in touch with us. The airport police contacted us as well and were immediately intimated about the balloon.” It was only at around 5.22 pm that the ATC and airport police gave clarity regarding the situation and ensured that the balloon would not harm the movement of aircrafts.
04/11/15 Neha LM Tripathi/Mid Day
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It all began at around 5 pm, when an ATC official noticed a white balloon hovering over the airfield. This balloon was seen near the Air India hangar following which officers at the Air Traffic Control (ATC) panicked. After observing the object at a critically lower level (balloons are usually not observed at such a low level), ATC officials then got in touch with IMD to check if they were aware of this balloon. An IMD official said, “It was not only the ATC officials who got in touch with us. The airport police contacted us as well and were immediately intimated about the balloon.” It was only at around 5.22 pm that the ATC and airport police gave clarity regarding the situation and ensured that the balloon would not harm the movement of aircrafts.
04/11/15 Neha LM Tripathi/Mid Day
