Airports on alert, Air Force ‘prepared’

New Delhi: After panic was created about the possibility of 9/11 style air strikes by terrorists following a meeting between Defence Minister A K Antony and the three Armed Forces chiefs on Wednesday, efforts were made to downplay the threat today.

While Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major confirmed that a warning had been received from intelligence agencies, he said that the Air Force was prepared to handle any eventuality. Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said that there was no reason to panic and necessary precautions had been taken after the alert.

Several airports across the country were put on high alert after two separate reports by intelligence agencies said that terrorists might strike installations in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Jammu and Leh. The other report talked about the possibility of terrorists using abandoned airstrips to launch 9/11 style attacks using small aircraft.

“It (the report) is based on a warning, which has been received and we are prepared as usual,” the Air Chief told reporters on the sidelines of a function in the Capital. The Air Force has put its air defence apparatus on high alert after the report.

Sources said the Western Command had put the entire air defence mechanism, including fighters, low-level radars and anti-aircraft guns and missiles, in the highest level of alertness after the threat. Fighter aircraft were also on stand-by to deal with unauthorised aircraft.

However, the Civil Aviation Ministry, which is coordinating the security arrangements with the Air Force, said that there was no reason to panic and due measures had been put in place.

“There is no reason to panic. All agencies concerned have taken the necessary precautions and security has been duly heightened after the alert,” said Patel.

Security has been stepped up across airports and passengers have been requested to arrive three hours before their flights to go through all the checks.

An additional “ladder point” security layer has also been added at certain airports to frisk passengers just before boarding the aircraft. The aviation ministry has also issued guidelines to all airlines to ask passengers to cooperate with security personnel.

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