'Unwelcome' copter in Chennai skies

By T.S. Shankar

CHENNAI, NOV. 26. The Chennai air space had an ``unwelcome visitor'' early today when a U.S. reconnaissance helicopter took off from a naval vessel and hovered around for ``nearly two hours'' without obtaining any permission from both the defence and aviation authorities here.

The Union Government has taken serious note of the incident. Giving details of the sequence of events, sources said the chopper was spotted by a vigilant air traffic controller who was monitoring the mono-pulse secondary surveillance radar as a routine exercise at around 3 a.m. Astounded by what he saw, the official reportedly checked if any such craft had permission to operate in the area.

The helicopter was spotted east of Chennai, 50 to 60 nautical miles, hovering close to the high-security Kalpakkam atomic power plant. The helicopter even refused to establish the mandatory radio contact with the nearby Chennai ATC.

Enquiries made by the airports authority reveal that the helicopter had not obtained any permission from the Air force authorities both at Chennai and Tambaram, besides the Naval Maritime authorities. This, again is a DGCA-stipulation which all craft have to adhere to, officials said.

The national airports division of the AAI which safeguards and provides air traffic services in the Indian airspace has taken serious note of this unusual U.S. visitor, which apparently took off from the destroyer USS John Young, which docked at Chennai Harbour today.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Next     : Thailand for greater security cooperation with
           India