LEH: An aerospace safety panel in Leh issued a sharp warning on Wednesday after a high-level review exposed growing threats to aircraft operations at the high-altitude airfield. The meeting, chaired by Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Sonam Nurboo (JKAS), brought multiple agencies together amid mounting concerns over animal intrusion, waste mismanagement and unregulated construction around the airport.
Wing Commander S. Gokula Krishnan, Flight Safety Officer of 21 Wing, Air Force Station Leh, briefed officials with what participants described as an uncompromising assessment. He flagged an alarming rise in bird-strike incidents—now considered the gravest operational hazard—directly linked to open garbage dumping and unmanaged waste sites that draw bird flocks into active flight paths.
According to the presentation, stray dog incursions onto the runway, unauthorised parking and photography in the funnel approach zone, and high-rise structures edging closer to restricted airspace are compounding operational risks. The officer warned that unless dumping grounds are eliminated and waste handling is brought under strict control, the threat to aircraft would continue to grow.
Officials also reviewed pending measures, including updates to the Disabled Aircraft Recovery Plan (DARP) and removal of physical obstructions along the airport perimeter. Wg Cdr Krishnan urged immediate intervention from the district administration to bring waste, wildlife and structural violations under firm regulation, and called upon commercial operators—SpiceJet and Air India—to revise their safety protocols accordingly.
ADDC Nurboo directed departments to document sector-specific issues and ensure swift corrective action. He stressed the need for regular SOP-based coordination among civilian and defence agencies to keep the airfield environment secure.
Following Nurboo’s departure, the session continued under Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Ghulam Mohammad (JKAS), who assured that all flagged concerns would be taken up in a follow-up review. The meeting also pressed for installation of bird spikes on airport structures, intensified cleanliness drives under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and coordinated teamwork to keep the aero-zone free of hazards.
Authorities, officials said, have effectively been put on notice: restore cleanliness, regulate the surroundings and enforce no-build and no-parking zones—or risk operational emergencies in Leh’s demanding skies.
Leh Airport on Alert after surge in Bird strikes, Dog intrusions; Safety Panel demands immediate action
