A low-flying aircraft spotted over multiple neighbourhoods in Trichy on Thursday morning triggered a brief wave of panic among residents, who were unaware of the official operation behind it. The incident highlighted a communication gap, as the local administration had not informed the public about the scheduled aerial activity.
Panic Over Populated Areas
The single-engine plane was first seen flying at a very low altitude over the densely packed Gandhi Market area. Throughout the morning, residents across Palakkarai, Thennur, Cantonment, Bhima Nagar, and near the Chathiram bus stand reported hearing the loud engine noise of the aircraft. It was flying as low as approximately 250 feet from the ground, an unusual sight that raised concerns.
Vendor H Ramachandran from Gandhi Market expressed the common fear, stating, "We were a bit worried as there was an incident involving emergency landing of a similar aircraft on a highway in Pudukottai last month." This recent memory amplified the anxiety among the citizens.
Official Clarification on the Aerial Mission
District Collector V Saravanan later clarified the situation. The aircraft was part of a multi-sensor aerial survey being conducted by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The survey, which will continue until January 1, aims to identify underground mineral resources across 13 districts, including Trichy.
The officials confirmed that the aircraft, a Cessna Caravan 208B, had obtained all necessary permissions from civil aviation authorities. Collector Saravanan added, "We asked them to intimate us in advance," hinting at the lack of prior public information from the Trichy administration.
Communication Gap Fuels Confusion
This lack of advance notice was the core issue. While the neighbouring Ariyalur district administration had issued a press release alerting its public about the low-flying survey plane, no such official statement was made in Trichy. This omission led to the unnecessary scare among the city's residents.
The survey is a significant scientific endeavour using specialised sensors to map subsurface mineral deposits. However, the event underscores the importance of coordinated public communication for such operations, especially in urban areas, to prevent alarm and misinformation.
