Latest News

    • Home
    • National
    • Mid-air scare as Sushma Swaraj's plane goes missing for 14 minutes
    Mid-air scare as Sushma Swaraj's plane goes missing for 14 minutes
    Tuesday, June 5, 2018 IST
    Mid-air scare as Sushma Swaraj

    NEW DELHI: In a major scare on Saturday evening, an Indian Air Force aircraft 'Meghdoot' flying external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj from Trivandrum to Mauritius, on her way to South Africa, went incommunicado for 14 minutes. The scare happened when Mauritian air traffic control and the crew of the Embraer 135 Legacy flying Swaraj — which was cruising safely — could not establish contact with each other for some time after the plane entered the island nation's air space.

     
     

    Mauritius then declared "INCERFA" alarm, which in aviation parlance means an uncertainty phase wherein it is not known if the aircraft and its occupants are safe. Soon after the story was first reported by TOI website, the AAI put out a press release confirming that Mauritius had indeed activated INCERFA or the first stage of emergency which lasted from 4.44pm to 4.58pm. Swaraj was accompanied by senior MEA officials including Secretary (Economic Relations) TS Tirumurti.
     
     
    AAI said the plane took off from Trivandrum, where it had stopped for refuelling, at 2.08 pm for Mauritius. "Aircraft changed over from Indian airspace to Male ATC which then established contact with the aircraft at 4.44 pm IST. However, IFC 31 could not contact Mauritius ATC after entering Mauritius airspace. Mauritius ATC then activated INCERFA (the uncertainty phase). Later at 4.58pm IST, IFC 31 came in contact with Mauritius ATC and landed. Mauritius ATC activated INCERFA (uncertainty phase) without allowing the stipulated time period of 30 minutes to lapse from the time when aircraft last contacted ATC. This was perhaps done because the flight was carrying a VIP," said the AAI in its statement.
     
    "Over oceanic airspace, air traffic control (ATC) globally waits for 30 minutes to sound INCERFA for a plane if it does not contact it on entering its airspace of flight information region. In this case, the Mauritius authorities pressed the alarm button 14 minutes after the flight IFC-31 entered its airspace and contact could not be established with the plane," said a senior official of Airports Authority India (AAI), the parent organisation for ATC here.
     
    The pilots of the Embraer, for which the alarm was sounded at 4.44pm, contacted Mauritius ATC at 4.58pm, after which everyone heaved a sigh of relief. The Embraer does not have a long range and Sushma, who is flying it from India to South Africa to attend BRICS and India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) ministerial meetings, had to take three refuelling or technical stops — Delhi-Trivandrum-Mauritius-South Africa. A senior ATC official said communication over oceanic area is often problematic due to erratic VHF communication. "Sometimes pilots are unable or forget to contact the Mauritius area. That oceanic area has no radar coverage and everything depends on VHF/HF communication. Such places where VHF coverage is not good are known as dark zones," said the official. The 14-minute long uncertainty phase (INCERFA) is first of the three emergency phases under International Civil Aviation Organisation's Chicago Convention. The second is "alert phase" (ALERFA) in which apprehension exists as to the safety of an aircraft and its occupants. The third is "distress phase" (DETRESFA) wherein there is a reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance. Luckily, the 14-minute-long scare involving Swaraj's VVIP plane ended with the first stage itself.
     

     
     

    "Air Traffic Services (ATS) or the responsible Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC), as appropriate, will make the Emergency Phase declaration within the time frame specified for the trigger event. As an example, loss of radio contact with an aircraft under ATS control could result in declaration of the Uncertainty Phase within 10 minutes, the Alert Phase within 20 minutes and the Distress Phase within 30 minutes of the event whereas loss of radio contact with an aircraft not under ATS control might not trigger the Uncertainty Phase declaration until 30 minutes had lapsed with Phase upgrade occurring at 30 minute intervals," said aviation website SKYbrary.
     
    Swaraj used the brief stopover in Mauritius to meet PM Pravin Jugnauth. The external affairs ministry had said in a series of tweets on Saturday evening: "On her way to South Africa during transit halt in Mauritius, EAM @SushmaSwaraj was warmly received by Foreign Minister of Mauritius, Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo… Connecting with our maritime neighbour! EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on the Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. Enhancing our bilateral relationship was the focus of the meeting."
    After these meetings, Swaraj left for South Africa. On June 6, she will visit the Phoenix settlement where Mahatma Gandhi had developed his philosophy of non-violence. On June 7, she and 300 other dignitaries will undertake a symbolic train ride from Pentrich station to Pietermaritzburg station to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's eviction from the train on that day in 1893.
     

     
     
     
     
     

    Related Topics

     
     
     

    Trending News & Articles

     Article
    Here is the full list of 827 porn websites banned by the DoT

    While the Uttarakhand High Court has asked to block 857 websites, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) found 30 portals without any pornographic content. ...

    Recently posted . 61K views . 1 min read
     

     Article
    Class XII Boys Raped 16-Year-old in Dehradun School After Watching Porn on Phone: Police

    The four boys as well as five school officials, including the director and principal, were arrested after the incident. The minors were presented before the Juvenil...

    Recently posted . 8K views . 1 min read
     

     Article
    Sept 27,2001 Rahul Gandhi and his girl friend Veronique,was arrested in Logan airport in Boston

    Rahul was having an Italian passport and was carrying suitcase full of dollars. Some say it was about was it $2 million. Rahul and his girl friend was th...

    Recently posted . 7K views . 7 min read
     

     Article
    TOP 10 GYM EQUIPMENT BRANDS IN INDIA 2017

    True – Tr...

    Recently posted . 6K views . 83 min read
     

     
     

    More in National

     Article
    Amazon India To Ban All Single-Use Plastic Packaging By June 2020

    Amazon India is the latest company to join the country's fight against environmental pollution, after taking the decision to ban all single-use plastic packag...

    Recently posted. 562 views . 1 min read
     

     Article
    Acid Attack Survivors Runs A Cafe In India And Its Attracting Visitors From Around The World

    In the shadows of the Taj Mahal in Agra is a monument dedicated to the brave survivors of acid attacks in India. Sheroes’ Hangout has garnered much apprecia...

    Recently posted. 523 views . 1 min read
     

     Article
    Missing AN-32: Wreckage of aircraft found in Arunachal after 8 days, confirms Air Force

    The Indian Air Force (IAF) has spotted the wreckage of the missing AN-32 jet that went off the radar on June 3 in Arunachal Pradesh.

    Recently posted. 489 views . 0 min read
     

     Video
    India the best country in the world



    Recently posted . 1K views
     

     Video
    These Traffic Cops Have Got Some Swag!



    Recently posted . 956 views
     

     Reviews
    Top CBSE schools in Noida



    Recently posted . 1K views . 88 min read
     

     Article
    AIIMS completes trials for low-cost, painless cervical cancer screening device

    The inventor is in talks with the Tamil Nadu government for introduction of the FDA-approved device in a primary care setting.  

    Recently posted. 572 views . 1 min read
     

     Article
    #boycottSurfexcel: Detergent brand faces backlash for ad promoting Hindu-Muslim harmony

    The brand released an advertisement created around the Hindu-Muslim unity theme and instantly faced flak for the concept. 

    Recently posted. 541 views . 0 min read
     

     
     
     

       Prashnavali

      Thought of the Day

    If you think you can – you can! If you think you cannot – you cannot! And either way… you are right !
    Anonymous

    Be the first one to comment on this story

    Close
    Post Comment
    Shibu Chandran
    2 hours ago

    Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

    November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
    Shibu Chandran
    2 hours ago

    Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

    November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
    Shibu Chandran
    2 hours ago

    Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

    November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
    Shibu Chandran
    2 hours ago

    Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

    November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


    ads
    Back To Top