U.S. Naval Destroyer Triggers Controversy in India

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 28, 2001

U.S. Naval Destroyer Triggers Controversy in India

A United States destroyer that docked at a port in Chennai, some 2,000 kilometers south of here, has triggered a controversy in the country after one of its reconnaissance helicopter flew over the air space of the city on Monday.

The helicopter had taken off from the naval destroyer, USS JohnGray of the Seventh Fleet which had anchored for refueling and stocking of supplies, and flew over Chennai air space for well over two hours without any permission from Indian authorities, thePress Trust of India (PTI) reported on Tuesday.

The helicopter reportedly hovered above an atomic power stationand a center for atomic research, 70 kilometers from the city early on Monday.

The matter had been referred to the Directorate General of India's Civil Aviation for "appropriate action" after an alert airtraffic controller spotted the helicopter on the radar screen, according to Executive Director of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) R. Rao.

The controller immediately informed the authorities concerned and his efforts to establish radio contact with the aircraft failed to receive any response, the PTI quoted Rao as saying.

However, commander of the American destroyer Geoffrey Pack denied any violation of India's airspace.

He told journalists in Chennai aboard the ship that the chopperwas on a routine flight rather than a surveillance mission.

Refusing to disclose the nature and mission of the flight, Packreportedly said that local air traffic control understood the purpose of the flight and that all regulations had been followed.

The incident triggered condemnation in political parties in NewDelhi with the opposition vowing to raise it in parliament, which is in session.

Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxism) expressed concern over the incident, saying it was a "serious development".

Significantly, the incident was reported on the day when Commander-in-Chief of the United States Pacific Command Admiral Dennis Blair arrived here on Tuesday for a three-day visit.