Leh Airport has undergone a temporary closure yesterday due to technical issues with the Indian Air Force's C-17 Globemaster aircraft, causing disruptions in flight operations. Numerous domestic flights to and from Leh had to be diverted due to the runway congestion. The issue has an impact on airlines including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Vistara, which collectively operate 10 daily flights to Leh.
One of the Indian Air Force's fleet's 11 C-17 heavy lifters was involved in the incident. When the aircraft landed in Leh while on a normal maintenance flight, it ran into a technical issue. Authorities with knowledge of the situation said that the problem is not serious and is being resolved quickly.
Airlines swiftly let passengers know what was happening. Due to runway constraints, Vistara reported on Twitter that its flight UK601 from Delhi to Leh would be returning to Delhi and would arrive at 10 a.m. After issuing a warning to airmen (NOTAM) in reaction to the aircraft's problem, Air India diverted one of its regular flights to Srinagar and cancelled the second trip.
While IndiGo, which operates four daily flights, was forced to cancel every flight to the impacted airport, SpiceJet was forced to cancel two of its three daily flights to and from Leh. All incoming flights to Leh have been cancelled, according to Flightradar24, an online service that tracks aircraft routes in real time.
An airport official confirmed the cancellation of all flights for the day, He also said that airlines would be promptly informed if the runway could resume operations as scheduled on the following day.
Along with IL-76s, C-130Js, and AN-32s, the C-17 aircraft is essential in assisting Indian Army deployments in the Ladakh region. In 2020, when the border stalemate with China was at its worst, C-17s were crucial in getting troops and military supplies to the eastern Ladakh region.
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