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States » EastPosted at: May 19 2025 8:41PM


Retired IAF officer warns against handing Lengpui Airport to Air Force

Aizawl, May 19 (UNI) Retired Indian Air Force (IAF) wing commander Joe Lalhmingliana has strongly criticised the current Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government, accusing it of attempting to hand over the state’s only Airport at Lengpui to the IAF.
Speaking at a Mizo National Front (MNF) event held at the party’s Aizawl office on Monday, Lalhmingliana warned that such a move would be a serious mistake.
Drawing on his 23 years of experience in the IAF, he stressed that civilian Airports should not be shared with or handed over to the Air Force. “If the government proceeds with transferring the sole Airport in Mizoram, it will be a grave error that will be deeply regretted in the future,” he said.
Lalhmingliana pointed out that other Indian states where Airports are shared with the IAF have faced significant difficulties, leading them to build alternative civilian Airports. “The IAF’s main priority is security, not the convenience of commercial passengers, which is clearly at odds with the needs of civilian air travellers,” he added. He also criticised the government-appointed committee tasked with studying the future of Lengpui Airport, saying it had failed to adequately carry out its responsibilities.
He recalled the history of Lengpui Airport’s construction, initiated in 1987 under the leadership of former Chief Minister and MNF founder Laldenga. The project’s survey began that year, construction commenced in 1996 during the Congress government, and the Airport was inaugurated by then Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani on December 12 during the second MNF administration.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently informed Chief Minister Lalduhoma that the plan to transfer Lengpui airport to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) should be revived soon. Shah proposed a meeting between himself, the Chief Minister, and the Union Civil Aviation Minister in mid-March to kickstart the initiative.
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Tags: #Retired IAF officer warns against handing Lengpui Airport to Air Force
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