GAUHATI, India, Dec. 12: Reuter: An Indian Air Force plane accidentally dropped two Soviet made air to air missiles over the north easter state of Assam, causing, panic among inhabitants, official spokesman said today.
As spokesman at eastern air command headquarters near the state capital Gauhati said the missiles were dropped on Tuesday. Air force pilots said privately they were side winder type rockets code named Atoll by Nato and they fell from a MIG21 fighter on a training flight.
‘A government spokesman said state radio was broadcasting warnings to the population in the tea‘ growing district of Dibrugarh 300 km (190 miles) northeast of Gauhati not to touch the missiles if they found them.
However, the warnings, broadcast at the request of the Air Force, Were causing panic in the district the spokesman said.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 19, 1986
