Drone-like object spotted near IGI, flights hit

New Delhi: Flight operations at Delhi airport were briefly halted on Sunday evening after an Air Asia pilot reported sighting a drone-like flying object, sending security agencies into a tizzy, police said.
Sanjay Bhatia, Deputy Commissioner of Police at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, said the pilot who was flying from Goa to Delhi reported having seen the object near Dwarka area adjoining the airport around 7.10pm.
“In this regard, operations at all the three runways were closed as a precautionary measure. At about 7.55pm, operations at the three runways resumed normally after clearance from Delhi Police,” Bhatia said.
The officer said they were verifying the object.
As per airport sources, as many as 15 flights were diverted and over 20 were delayed within the span of 28 minutes of operational shutdown.
Earlier during the day, operations were briefly halted around 11.30 a.m. to 12.15 p.m. on one of the three runways, as a similar sighting of a drone-like flying object was reported.
The sighting around 11.15 am was reported by a pilot of China Airline flight CI 18 when the aircraft was making its final approach near runway 28/10. (IANS)