New Delhi: In a first, an IAF Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft landed on a common road instead of an airbase — Yamuna Expressway — at 6.40 am on Thursday near Mathura in western Uttar Pradesh. Sources said the IAF was looking to test preparedness for eventualities in times of conflict by landing the fighter aircraft on a road.
“In case of war, if an airbase is attacked, the fighter aircraft have to land somewhere, preferably close by. This was to test preparedness in a situation of war where there can be such an eventuality,” sources said.
Sources said the Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft flew in from Gwalior and landed on the Yamuna Expressway after which the aircraft took off again. The pilot apparently, brought the Mirage-2000 close to the surface, then pulled up, circled over once and then prepared for landing. The aircraft first made a practice approach on the highway coming down to 100 metres from the surface before landing on the next approach.
Traffic was halted at the Yamuna Expressway near Mathura ahead of the fighter aircraft’s landing. Speculation is rife that the IAF may carry out more such landings in future on the Yamuna Expressway and National Highways to test preparedness, using not just the Mirage-2000 fighters but also other fighter aircraft including the frontline Sukhoi-30 MKI and the MiG 29.
A former senior IAF officer said the Pakistanis had carried out such a landing near Islamabad way back in the late 1990s to similarly prepare for such an eventuality on their part.
Mirage on highway
- In a first, a Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft of the IAF landed on the Yamuna Expressway as part of trials to use national highways for emergency landing
- The IAF has been considering the use of national highways for emergency landing by fighter aircraft
- The aircraft first made a practice approach on the highway coming down to 100 metres before landing on the next approach
- For the trial, all facilities like makeshift Air Traffic Control, safety services, rescue vehicles, bird clearance parties and other requirements were set in place by the IAF
