In a major security breach, a suspicious drone was found near runway at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on February 7.
An FIR has been registered against the unknown person by the Sahar police after the drone was found despite the ban.
As per the order, flying drones, remote controlled microlight aircraft, hand gliders, paragliders, paramotors, hot air balloons etc are prohibited in Mumbai between February 1 and March 2.
This order is extended regularly to maintain security for any terror threat in Mumbai. A copy of the order has been pasted at police and important junctions and police beat posts. On February 7, there was a schedule of VIP arrival and departure at the airport and the police were doing rounds.
The police control room received information that a drone was seen flying in the apron area of Terminal 2 between 7.45 AM and 8.15 AM. The officials immediately coordinated with the airport security and a security personnel was sent to the apron area. He found a drone lying on the ground, which was then collected and sealed.
The Sahar police also conducted investigations in the settlements adjacent to the airport wall but no clues have been found so far.
In December 2024 also, the Mumbai airport police registered an FIR after finding an unclaimed drone near a taxiway close to the old Air India hangar inside the airport, as reported by Times of India.
The drone was found by a cleaning staff member and an operator at 9.30 AM. They then alerted the airport police. Police carried out a search in the colonies neighbouring the airport security wall but could not find the person operating the drone. The drone was confiscated by the police.
Last month, a China-made drone was found inside its premises of Bhopal Central Jail. As reported by NDTV, the drone reportedly lay undetected for eight days before it located by one of the staffs in the jail. As per the information, the light-weight drone was spotted by a duty guard near B block, which is section close to the high-security 'anda cells', that houses inmates linked to terrorism and anti-national activities.