PM Modi attends special aerial show at Assam’s first emergency landing facility

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday witnessed a special aerial display by the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the newly inaugurated Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) in Moran, Assam. The 4.2-km stretch, the first-of-its-kind in the northeast, was formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister during his day-long visit to the State.

The aerial show, lasting over 20 minutes, showcased precision take-offs and landings by frontline fighter jets and transport aircraft on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh district. A Sukhoi-30 MKI took off first, followed by a Rafale jet, underlining the operational readiness of the IAF at the newly developed facility.

The IAF’s An-32 aircraft performed a ‘touch and go’ manoeuvre, while formations of Sukhoi-30 MKI and Rafale jets flew in quick succession over Moran. During the demonstration, select aircraft landed at the strip while others executed overshoot procedures, highlighting the dual-use capability of the highway-based facility.

Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) carried out Special Heli-Borne Operations by dropping commandos at the airstrip. Separate drills demonstrated relief operations and medical evacuation procedures, underscoring the facility’s role in humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Developed at a cost of nearly ₹100 crore in coordination with the IAF, the ELF is designed to support both military and civil aircraft during emergencies. Around 16 aircraft participated in what was described as the first elaborate exercise of its kind at an emergency landing facility in the region.