(a) whether the Government has investigated the mysterious fire ball reported by foreign aircraft pilots in the air about 300 nautical miles south-west of Delhi as reported in the Sunday Express on March 4, 2007;
(b) if so, the facts thereof; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION ( SHRI PRAFUL PATEL )
(a)&(b):-On 03.03.2007 at 0144 hours (IST), many flights reported to Delhi Air Traffic Control (ATC) on Radio Telephony that a ball of fire was being observed somewhere in the south-west of Delhi. The same phenomenon was also reported by one flight to the Ahmedabad ATC. The height and altitude of the fire ball was not reported by any flight. However, the above flights were operating between 26000 feet and 36000 feet.
(c):-After receiving reports from various flights, the Indian Air Force Military Liaison Unit (AFMLU) and Local Police were informed and alerted at Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi for possible rescue operation. The Joint Analysis and Control Centre (JCAC) at Indira Gandhi International Airport was also alerted. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) also requested the Indian Metereological Department to examine the observations from any special atmospheric point of view. The phenomenon was never reported before and even after the occurrence on 03.03.2007.