Eeshna Dashottar, Pune
A Myanmar army aircraft crash-landed at the Lengpui airport, Mizoram on Tuesday, 23rd January, 2024. The plane, with 14 passengers onboard, crashed in the process of landing, as stated by Times of India. The plane skidded off the tabletop runway (path built on top of a plateau or hill) of the airport. The crash’s impact led to the splitting of the aircraft into two. Six people, including the pilot, have suffered minor injuries because of the incident. On confirmation of the injuries, immediate response teams were dispatched to the place. The injured are undergoing medical treatment at the Lengpui Hospital, Mizoram, the Mizoram Director General of Police (DGP) said (as stated by the Hindustan Times).
The aircraft was sent for repatriation following the crossing over of Myanmarese soldiers to Mizoram last week. The cross-over took place on January 17 when Myanmarese soldiers had a gunfight with the civilian army in the Lawngtlai district. With their camps captured by ‘Akran Army’ fighters (an armed ethnic group), the soldiers had to run to Mizoram to take shelter. They could seek shelter in the Indian state as it shares a 510-km-long border with Myanmar. The soldiers, equipped with weapons, had initially entered Bandukbanga village and met with the Assam Rifles for assistance. They were taken to the Assam Rifles camp at Parva, from where most went to Lunglei. The soldiers remained under the supervision of the Assam Rifles and were then taken to Aizwal.
For the purpose of taking back the soldiers to their country, a plane of the Myanmar army arrived at Lengpui airport on Monday. 184 soldiers were taken back in the first plane which took them from Aizwal to Sittwe, (capital of Rakhine state, Myanmar). The next 92 soldiers were scheduled to be taken on Tuesday.
Mizoram government official has said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has called for an investigation into this incident (as stated by India TV). Diversion of all the flights to Aizwal airport has also been put in place after the incident. The resuming of flight services (incoming and outgoing) is yet to be known.