Synopsis
On March 24, a flight carrying Himachal Pradesh Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri and DGP Atul Verma nearly missed the runway at Jubbarhatti. The plane hit an unpaved strip, but no major incident occurred. The airport's short runway has raised safety concerns among officials and calls for expansion.Key Takeaways
- Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri and DGP Atul Verma were aboard a flight that nearly missed the runway.
- The aircraft hit an unpaved strip, causing tire bursts but avoiding a major disaster.
- The Jubbarhatti airport is cited as one of the country’s riskiest.
- Expansion of the runway is urgently needed for safety.
- Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu advocates for a standard international airport.
Shimla, March 24 (NationPress) It was a near miss for Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and Director General of Police Atul Verma on Monday when the aircraft they were traveling in, with nearly 30 passengers, overshot the runway at Jubbarhatti, located on the outskirts of the state capital.
According to eyewitnesses, the plane went beyond the runway and came into contact with the unpaved strip at the edge of the airstrip.
Fortunately, the aircraft managed to stay on the runway, averting a significant disaster. However, the sudden landing caused the plane's tires to burst.
The flight had departed from Delhi after undergoing a routine check and receiving clearance for no technical issues, as stated by airport officials.
“The runway is small, and we cannot ignore this reality. As a layperson, I can assert that the plane did not land where it was supposed to and approached the end of the airstrip,” Mukesh Agnihotri informed the media.
The Jubbarhatti airport in Himachal Pradesh, situated at a height of 2,196 metres above sea level, is recognized as one of the country’s most hazardous table-top airports, necessitating timely expansion.
Officials from the state have repeatedly addressed the issue with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to consider the expansion of the airstrip at Jubbarhatti, located approximately 22 km from the capital, to ensure safer aircraft landings.
Aviation experts indicate that the runway is around 300 metres shorter than the standard length of 1,500 metres.
“The runway at this airport measures less than 1,200 metres, and its expansion has been significantly delayed due to the adjacent forest area and private land. The minimum required length for runway extension is 1,500 metres, which would enable a 40-seater aircraft to operate according to new safety standards,” stated a civil aviation official from the state.
In January, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu mentioned that the state lacks an airport meeting international standards and that the Central government should bear the entire cost of its construction.
