The Hindu : National : Port Blair airport closed, aid operations to continue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 27, 2004

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National

Port Blair airport closed, aid operations to continue

By T.S. Shankar

CHENNAI, DEC. 26. Minutes after the tremors shook North Indonesia, the Chennai Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower authorities received an SOS from the Car Nicobar islands in the early hours of Sunday.

According to airport sources, the urgent message received around 7 a.m. sought help from Defence authorities. It was radioed through the very high frequency radio channel from passing aircraft — a Jet Airways flight flying from Kolkata to Port Blair early this morning.

The sources said while the flight operations to Port Blair from Chennai were cancelled by the domestic carriers, the Air Traffic Controllers in Chennai airport alerted the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard authorities about the possible emergency situation and the urgent assistance sought by the Car Nicobar airport authorities.

Notice given

For defence aircraft, Car Nicobar is the alternative airport to land, while for commercial airlines, it is Phuket, said airport sources.

Meanwhile, a Notice to Airmen or NOTAM (an official notification for the benefit of the global airline operators) has been issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) announcing the closure of Port Blair airport for a month from today, resulting in the suspension of regular scheduled air services to the island.

However, the southern regional executive director of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), S.K. Saraswathi, told The Hindu that there had been confirmed reports of damage to the Port Blair terminal building. But the extent of damage was yet to be assessed. Mr. Saraswathi said about 5,500 ft of the runway was still available for use by any rescue flight operations to Port Blair by defence authorities. "There has been no disruption of air services out of Chennai airport on account of the tremors," R. J. Treasuryvala, Chennai airport director, added.

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