Mirage lands on expressway

As part of trials to use highways for emergency landing

IAF officials set up a makeshift Air Traffic Control before the landing of Mirage 2000 on Yamuna Expressway on Thursday.

A Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage 2000 fighter landed on the Yamuna expressway near Mathura for the first time on Thursday. The landing was part of trials to use national highways for emergency landing, Air Force officials said.

“The aircraft got airborne from one of the bases in Central India… It made a practice approach on the highway coming down to 100 metres before landing on the next approach,” Air Force said in a statement.

Facilities

All facilities like make shift Air Traffic Control (ATC), safety services, rescue vehicles, bird clearance parties and other requirements were set up by personnel from Air Force Station Agra.

A 3 km stretch on the expressway identified by the IAF was converted into a road runway.

While this is India’s first road runway for use by the IAF, both neighbours China and Pakistan have such runways.

Officers added that the IAF has plans to activate more such stretches on highways in the future.