IAF aircraft makes emergency landing near Delhi metro station

An IAF microlite aircraft with two persons on board made an emergency precautionary landing on Sunday in a park near a metro station in east Delhi after the pilot suspected a problem in the plane.

The two persons on board are safe and the aircraft has not suffered any damage, Air Force and local police officials said after the two-seater aircraft landed at around 11 AM at the DDA Park near Shastri Park metro station, attracting a large crowd of onlookers.

The aircraft belonging to the National Cadet Corps wing of the Indian Air Force had taken off from Hindon air base for checking bird activity around the base where the IAF was carrying out the full dress rehearsal of its 81st IAF Day parade.

It made the "precautionary" landing near the Shastri Park metro station, an IAF spokesperson said.

"The pilot suspected that something was not right in the aircraft and that is why made a precautionary landing," he said.

The aircraft is now being brought back to the Hindon air base after a thorough check.

Meanwhile, at the parade at Hindon, IAF's latest acquisitions C-17 heavylift transport aircraft and C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft made their maiden appearance.

Both the aircraft are based at the Hindon air base itself and have helped the IAF in extending its strategic reach and the ability to drop and deploy troops and heavy equipment such as tanks in forward areas along with the China and Pakistan border.

The other aircraft which flew at the event include the Mi-35 and Mi-17V5 choppers, Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguar and Mig 21 aircraft.

The land and aerial version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile were on static display.

Photograph: Courtesy ANI