Lengpui: A Myanmar military aircraft crashed at Mizoram's Lengpui airport today, said officials. As per the Mizoram Director General of Police (DGP), at least eight people were injured in the Burmese Army plane crash.
The plane had arrived here to take back the Myanmarese soldiers who crossed over to India last week, following gunfights with ethnic insurgent group 'Arakan Army'.
Army aircraft crashed while landing
The Mizoram DGP said that a total of 14 people were on board with the pilot, of wich eight sustained injuries, while six are safe. All the injured were admitted to Lengpui Hospital.
As per the received information, while landing, it overshot the tabletop runway of the airport and crashed. The impact of the accident was such that the plane split into two.
DGCA orders investigation
Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) orders investigation into Myanmar military plane crash, said Mizoram govt official.
Meanwhile, all flights to Aizawl airport were diverted after a Myanmar military plane crash.
Mizoram DGP Anil Shukla says "Today at 10:30 am, a plane from Govt of Myanmar came to Lengpui airport to take back the surrendered Myanmarese personnel. While landing, the aircraft overshot the runway and went into the bushes. This led to damage to the aircraft. The aircraft was carrying 14 crew members, 8 of them have been injured. The injured were taken to the Lengpui Hospital and later, they were shifted to the Civil Hospital. They have received minor injuries, none of them are serious. At the moment, the operations at the airport have been suspended."
184 Myanmarese soldiers sent home
India on Monday sent home at least 184 Myanmarese soldiers, who fled to Mizoram. The remaining 92 soldiers were to be repatriated on Tuesday. The plane was supposed to take them to Sittwe in Myanmar's Rakhine state.
The Assam Rifles confirmed that a total of 276 Myanmar Army personnel took refuge in Mizoram's Lawngtlai district on January 17 after their camps were captured by the Arakan Army militants.
The soldiers entered Bandukbanga village at the India-Myanmar-Bangladesh trijunction in Mizoram's Lawngtlai district on January 17 and approached the Assam Rifles for assistance. The soldiers were taken to Assam Rifles' Parva camp in the district.
On January 2 and 9, a total of 151 Myanmarese soldiers were flown back home on a Myanmar military aircraft that came to Lengpui airport.
Myanmarese soldiers seek refuge in Mizoram
Earlie, Myanmarese soldiers, commonly known as the 'Tatmadaw,' sought refuge in Mizoram's Lawngtlai district after their camps in the neighbouring country were overtaken by Arakan Army fighters, an armed ethnic group.
According to an Assam Rifles officer, the soldiers from the Myanmar army, carrying their weapons, fled and sought refuge with the Assam Rifles at Tuisentlang in Lawngtlai district.
(With agencies input)
