(Image source from: Small parachute-like objects seen at Mumbai airport})

5 small parachute-like objects were seen approaching from the southwest direction of the Mumbai airport and moving towards northeast along with the wind.The airfield staff sounded an alert to the air traffic control tower, which in turn asked pilots lined up for take-off and landing to be cautious, since they were crossing the runway of intersection.The aerial objects created a flutter at the Mumbai airport, when two Jet Airways flights were asked to abort take-off and landing.

Directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) said that the Indian Meteorological Department's airport bureau in Santacruzmight have set off balloons to collect weather data."The weather balloons travelled from the southwest owing to the current wind pattern. The flight paths match with the location where airport staff spotted the aerial objects," said a senior DGCA official.

"These balloons fly at an altitude much higher than the touchdown levels used by scheduled flights. Therefore there are slim chances of them coming in the way of air traffic," said SG Kamble, director of radar, IMD Mumbai airport bureau.

Weather balloon flies in a high altitude balloon carrying instruments aloft to send back information on atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity and wind speed using small, expendable measuring device called a radiosonde.

By Premji