Aircraft carrying Modi lands on Assam highway

An Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft carrying Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unexpected landing – not at an airport, but on a stretch of National Highway-37 in Moran, Assam, on Saturday.

The unusual touchdown briefly transformed the highway into a runway, drawing attention to what lay behind the dramatic move. 

The landing was part of a test of the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF), a specially reinforced 4.2-kilometre stretch along the Moran Bypass designed to function as an alternative airstrip in times of crisis.

Earlier, Modi had indicated in a post on X that the facility would be crucial for emergency response, allowing swift deployment of rescue and relief operations during challenging situations. Built at a cost of Rs 100 crore, the ELF is intended to serve as a strategic and multi-functional runway for Indian Air Force fighter jets and transport aircraft.

The facility can accommodate fighter aircraft weighing up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 74 tonnes. It is designed for both military and civilian use and can act as an alternative to Dibrugarh airport in emergencies.

India’s first Emergency Landing Facility was inaugurated in 2021 in Rajasthan’s Barmer district. The Assam stretch marks a significant addition to that network, particularly in the strategically important Northeast.

After the landing, the Prime Minister witnessed a 40-minute air show featuring Tejas, Sukhoi and Rafale fighter jets, turning the highway demonstration into a full display of aerial capability.

Source: NDTV