Picture Source: Grupo One Air’s Website
Nagpur, November 30, 2024: a fake Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal sparked fear near Nagpur, Maharashtra’s Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport.
The signal, which is usually linked with a downed aircraft or a distress situation, was discovered by Air Traffic Control in northeastern airspace near the Mohgaon Zilpi region, triggering an immediate response from local authorities.
Around 7:30 p.m., the police were notified, and a search operation began. Police and other emergency services searched a large area for several hours.
Despite examining the region around the airport, no evidence of an aircraft accident was discovered. After a thorough search, the operation was called off at 10:30 p.m. when it was determined to be a false alarm.
To ascertain if the ELT signal was a legitimate distress call or the result of a technical issue, authorities are currently looking into where it came from. Issues like battery failure or improper handling of emergency beacon equipment can cause false ELT warnings, which are not unusual.
Investigations into the signal’s origin are still underway, but neither the airport nor the local government have issued an official comment as of yet.
This event emphasizes the complexity and necessity of the ELT system, which is intended to assist in the location of aircraft in difficulty but can occasionally result in needless emergency responses if it malfunctions.
The timely and coordinated response by local authorities ensured that no further damage or risks were posed, despite the initial alarms. An investigation is underway, as authorities work to determine the cause of the false alarm and address any technical issues that may have contributed to the incident said an official
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