A Bangladesh Air Force aircraft landed in the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport, Indore, where it spent an unusual 14 hours and 36 minutes on the ground, leading to speculation about the aircraft’s purpose.
Data on the flights showed that the military aircraft landed at Indore at about 5.24 pm on July 28, and that it spent the night in Indore, before taking off for Varanasi at about 8.00 am on July 29.
The aircraft has been reported to have flown a route from Muscat (Oman) to Karachi to Indore and then to Varanasi and then to Dhaka in Bangladesh.
A haul of airfares was halted for refuelling and routine ground handling activities at the airport, the sources from the airport stated. Government officials, however, have not said why the aircraft has been at Indore for so long instead of just making its way onwards as per normal procedure following its duties.
The intended flight is also now under discussion. There is a question about the mission as well as the passengers on the board and why the mission chose Indore as it’s transit station.
Airport officials said they couldn’t comment when contacted for more details about what the plane was doing, or where it was going and who was on board. Only the move of foreign military and special aircraft are allowed, the officials said, and then with strict adherence to protocol and Government clearances.
Police also noted that there was no sign of security problem or irregularity involved during the aircraft’s visit.
Completing all necessary tasks, the BanaRaj secured their jet to take off from Indore and flew on their way to Varanasi as per the plan.