IAF microlite aircraft makes emergency landing

Siliguri, Aug 7 (UNI) An Indian Air Force (IAF) microlite aircraft today made an emergency landing on the Barsa river bank, about two to three km from the Hashimara airbase, under Kalchani police station of Alipurduar subdivision in Jalpaiguri district.

Special Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jalpaiguri, Zulfikar Hassan said the microlite aircraft, while conducting a sortie, developed a technical snag and made an emergency landing on the remote Barsa river bank, about 150 kms east of Siliguri town.

The aircraft, with pilot Bikash Ray and co-pilot H Mukherjee, had taken off from the Hashimara airbase at 1005 hrs this morning.

No one was injured in the incident, the IGP added.

IAF personnel rushed to the spot and barricaded the area.

An earlier report, quoting police, had stated that a MIG-27 fighter aircraft had crashed at the Gudamdabary area, which was, however, refuted by the IGP.

UNI XC DPM PL PD DS1530