The Indian Air Force on Sunday scrambled fighter planes from Jodhpur Air Base after two commercial passenger aircrafts using similar identification codes sought to enter Indian air territory from Pakistan’s side, sparking a security alert.
According to Hindustan Times, two MiG-21 fighter aircraft were sent from Jodhpur Air Base to investigate a Turkish Airlines plane over Jaisalmer when it repeated an identification code, which is unique to any aircraft, given by a commercial passenger plane that had entered Indian airspace before it. However, the New Delhi-bound passenger plane was later allowed to proceed after its credentials were verified, IAF officials said.
Identification codes are issued to commercial airplanes to establish their identity before they enter the territory of any particular country during international flights.
The first aircraft entered the Indian air territory using its identification code and doubts were raised when the second aircraft gave out the same code, an IAF spokesperson said.
As part of standard operating procedures, the IAF scrambles its fighter aircraft and alerts its air defence units if any unidentified aircraft or any other flying object is seen in its air zone.
