2023 · Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Imphal, Manipur, India
Imphal airport closed; the IAF sends Rafales
Part ofThe closed airport
From the accounts: a white object hung over Imphal airport's control tower for about 90 minutes on 19 November 2023. · Illustration for uaptrail.com
When19 November 2023, 14:30–16:05 IST
WhereBir Tikendrajit International Airport, Imphal, Manipur, India
Backing2 independent
Evidenceofficial records
On the afternoon of 19 November 2023 Imphal airport's security force reported a white object hanging over the control tower. It stayed for about 90 minutes; the airport stopped all traffic for nearly three hours and diverted flights. The Air Force activated its air-defence response and sent two Rafale fighters, which found nothing. The government confirmed the event in Parliament.
Evidence, in date order (2)
- 19 Nov 2023Indian Air Force Eastern Commandofficialactivated its air-defence response
- 14 Dec 2023Government of India, Lok Sabhaofficialconfirmed the sighting, NOTAM and flight disruption LS Unstarred Q.2024
How plausible · High
A government answer in Parliament, a NOTAM, CISF and tower witnesses, and an Air Force response with Rafales; no radar track released.
- ●●Access Tower and security staff.
- ●●No gain sought Official.
- ●●Character record Government and IAF.
- ●●Independent convergence Tower, CISF, public.
- ●●Checkable details check out Parliament answer; NOTAM.
- ●○Restraint "Small object."
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
Claims
'An unidentified flying object was seen near the Imphal airfield just above the ATC Tower overhead. The object appeared to be of White colour and it moved southwards above ATC Tower and remained stationary there for some time. It remained visible till 1605 IST and thereafter disappeared.' Landings and take-offs were suspended for nearly 3 hours and a NOTAM issued; two flights diverted and three held.firsthandOn the recordMoS Civil Aviation Gen. (Dr) V.K. Singh, Lok Sabha Unstarred Q.2024, 14 Dec 2023
'IAF activated its Air Defence response mechanism based on visual inputs from Imphal airport … The small object was not seen thereafter.'Gimhae airport closed for lights over the baseHangzhou Xiaoshan airport closed by a lightfirsthandSourced, unconfirmedIAF Eastern Command, via DD News
One Rafale from Hasimara flew low over the area with its sensors and found nothing; a second was sent with the same result; videos of the object exist.secondhandSourced, unconfirmeddefence sources to ANI
Where
Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Imphal, Manipur, India
24.8°N 93.9°E
In The picture
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