Parachute-like objects spotted over Mumbai airport

Mumbai, May 25

Unidentified parachute-like objects were spotted in the Mumbai airport airspace here, raising security concern.

According to airport police, five unidentified objects were spotted over the airport area on Saturday evening by a pilot of Jet Airways when he was about to take a flight off the run way.

He immediately alerted the Mumbai airport's Air Traffic Controller about the incident, airport police said.

The authorities of the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) were also informed about the objects spotted over the airport.

MIAL immediately alerted the airport police station, a MIAL official told PTI.

Meanwhile, unidentified parachute-like objects were not motorised and the Mumbai police suspect these to be Chinese lanterns floating in the air, a state Home Department official said here today.

According to K.P. Bakshi, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), the unidentified objects that were flying from the Kalina side and were last seen near the ITC Maratha Hotel on Sahar Road disappeared and the police are still clueless about where they landed.

"Preliminary investigations show that these unidentified objects are not motorised. The police suspect these to be Chinese lanterns. While no case has been registered, a final report will be out within a couple of days," Bakshi told PTI.

"We do not know where these objects have disappeared.

All police stations were on alert but their landing spot is still a mystery to us," he said. PTI