Advertisement
A special Indian Air Force flight carrying the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarai, lost control with the ATC for 14 minutes. Fortunately the IAF aircraft established contact with the Mauritius ATC after 14 minutes much to the relief of everybody. Ms Swaraj was on her way to South Africa via Mauritius on a five day official visit.
The reason for the incommunicado for 14 minutes is not clear. One reason could be that certain stretches of the Indian Ocean over which the aircraft was flying, did not have radar coverage. While the IAF sources said that loss of communication whii flying long distances over seas is normal, an AAI official termed it as a grave security lapse.
Advertisement
