In an unusual scene, a Sukhoi war plane, along with other carrier planes of the Indian Air Force (IAF), was found landed at the Agartala airport on Thursday.
Official of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) said the aircrafts had come to check the landing and takeoff facility available at the airport for fighter aircrafts.
Airport Director of Agartala Airport S.D Barman said, "Today, fighter aircraft Sukhoi landed in Agartala airport to find out the suitability of Agartala airport for the operation of the fighter aircraft so that this airport can be used if it necessary during war time. The commander has said that our airport is absolutely suitable for fighter operation they found the circuit of the aerodrome quite convenient. The commander had said that quite frequently they would come to the Agartala airport to operate."
Along with the Sukhoi, two more AN32 transport aircrafts of the IAF, also landed here which is an unusual scene at the civil airport.
Sukhoi is a heavy twinjet multirole air superiority, all-weather, long-range fighter developed by Russia's Sukhoi and built under licence by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the IAF.
In Tripura, out of four airports, the Agartala airport is the only operational and the rest three at Khowai in Khowai district, Kamalpur in Dhalai district and Kailashajhar in Unakoti district are abandoned.
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All four airports of Tripura are located very close the India-Bangladesh international border.
Recently, Indian junior Civil Aviation Minister Jayanta Sinha said India is emphasizing on rehabilitating several unused airports build during the World War II across the north-eastern states to improve the regional connectivity informed.
Sinha declared an investment of Rs. 400 crores will be done towards improving the Agartala airport into an international airport.