JODHPUR: On Sunday, the Indian Air Force scrambled fighter planes from air base after two commercial passenger aircraft sought to enter Indian territory from Pakistan side using similar identification codes, sparking a security alert.
Two MiG-21 fighter aircraft were sent from Jodhpur air base to investigate a Turkish Airlines plane over Jaisalmer on Sunday morning 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 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 Indian territory using its identification code and doubts were raised when the second aircraft gave out the same code, an IAF spokesperson said.
