NORMAL flight services at Manipur’s Imphal International Airport were affected on Sunday afternoon over sighting of an unidentified flying object (UFO), officials said. Two flights were diverted and three others delayed. Services normalised after around three hours. “Due to sighting of an unidentifiedfly ing object within Imphal controlled airspace, two flights have been diverted and three departing flights have been delayed. Flight operations commence after receipt of clearance fromthe competent authority,” a statement issued byAirportDirectorChipemmi Keishing said.

 

An official of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) said they received a message from the CISF at 2.30 pm, informing them that a UFO was found near the airport. “The UFO was visible with bare eyes moving westwards oftheairfieldtill4pm,”theofficial said. The diverted flights includedanIndigoflightfromKolkata which was initially instructed “to hold overhead” and was diverted to Guwahati after 25 minutes. The delayed flights however left Imphal airport after receiving clearance late after around three hours. TheIndianAirForce Eastern Command at Shillong was informed of the development, the official said. Manipur is bordered by Nagaland, Mizoram and Assam, besides sharing an international border with Myanmar to its east.