IAF activates Emergency Landing Facility on Purvanchal Expressway at Sultanpur, by day and night
The Indian Air Force activated the Emergency Landing Facility on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur district, Uttar Pradesh on 22 April 2026, by day and night, with Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Su-30MKI, C-295 and AN-32 aircraft and a Mi-17 V5 helicopter.
Summary
An Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, was activated by the Indian Air Force on 22 April 2026, both by day and by night. Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI, C-295 and AN-32 aircraft, a Mi-17 V5 helicopter and a Garud Commando team took part, in the presence of Air Marshal B Manikantan, AOC-in-C Central Air Command. The IAF, the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) and the civil administration validated their procedures for activating such highway airstrips at short notice, which the IAF said boosts its ability to operate without standard runways and supports disaster response.
Key facts
- Where / when
- Purvanchal Expressway, Sultanpur (UP), 22 April 2026, day and night
- Aircraft
- Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Su-30MKI, C-295, AN-32; Mi-17 V5; Garud Commandos
- Present
- Air Marshal B Manikantan, AOC-in-C, Central Air Command
- Partners
- UPEIDA and local civil administration
- Purpose
- Operations without standard runways; HADR
Practice MCQs 2 questions
In April 2026, the IAF activated an Emergency Landing Facility at Sultanpur on which expressway?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Purvanchal Expressway
The ELF activated on 22 April 2026 is on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur district, Uttar Pradesh.
Consider the following statements about the IAF's ELF activation at Sultanpur (22 April 2026): 1. Operations were carried out both by day and by night. 2. The C-295 transport aircraft took part in the operations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the ELF was activated by day and night, and the participating fleet included the C-295 along with Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Su-30MKI and AN-32.