Defense news ,India & Myanmar :- A military aircraft from Myanmar met with an accident at Lengpui airport in Mizoram on Tuesday morning while on a mission to transport Myanmarese soldiers back to their home country. The soldiers had sought refuge in India after clashes with an ethnic insurgent group the previous week.
According to officials, the small plane, carrying 14 people, overshot the tabletop runway during landing, resulting in a crash that caused the aircraft to split into two. Eight individuals on board sustained injuries and were promptly taken to the Lengpui primary health centre for treatment.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an investigation into the crash, as reported by a state government official. In the meantime, all incoming flights have been diverted, and the resumption of flight services remains uncertain.
Last week, a total of 276 Myanmarese soldiers had entered Mizoram, with 184 of them sent back on Monday. The remaining 92 soldiers, scheduled for repatriation on Tuesday, were on the ill-fated plane. Their destination was Sittwe in Myanmar's Rakhine state.
The soldiers had entered Bandukbanga village on January 17, located at the India-Myanmar-Bangladesh trijunction, after their camp was overrun by 'Arakan Army' fighters. Seeking assistance, they approached the Assam Rifles and subsequently fled to Mizoram.
Under the supervision of the Assam Rifles, the soldiers were initially taken to the Parva camp and later shifted to Lunglei. Over the weekend, they were transported to Aizawl for their repatriation from the Lengpui airport.
The group, led by a colonel and comprising 36 officers and 240 lower-rank personnel, marked a total of 635 Myanmar soldiers seeking refuge in Mizoram due to conflicts with ethnic armed organizations and pro-democratic forces in recent months.
This unfortunate incident follows a series of similar events, including the repatriation of Myanmar army personnel via Indian Air Force helicopters in November and the return of 255 soldiers through Myanmar air force planes earlier this month. Mizoram shares a 510-km-long border with Myanmar.
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