Indian high-altitude supersonic object crashes in Pakistan territory

An unidentified high-altitude supersonic object, originating in India, crashed in Pakistani territory on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s military has sought an explanation from India’s government over the incident that could have endangered civilian passenger flights, reports Reuters.

In a hurriedly-called press conference on Thursday night, Pakistan military spokesman Major-General Babar Iftikhar said, “On 9 March a high-speed flying object was picked up inside Indian territory by air defence operations centre of the Pakistan air force.”

He said the military was not sure of the nature of the object, which crashed near the eastern Pakistani city of Mian Channu and originated from the Indian city of Sirsa, in India’s western Haryana province.

There was no immediate response from India’s Ministry of External Affairs to a query on the matter sent outside working hours.

 “The flight path of this object endangered many national and international passenger flights both in Indian and Pakistani airspace as well as human life and property of ground,” Babar said.

A Pakistan air force official at the press conference said the object was being analysed forensically and initial studies suggested it was a surface-to-surface supersonic missile but were unarmed.

He said it travelled at an altitude of 40,000 feet, at Mach 3, and flew 124 km (77 miles) in Pakistani airspace before crashing.

Babar said the military would not jump to conclusions until they got an explanation from India, but said that Pakistan strongly protests against this “flagrant violation” of its airspace.

 “Whatever caused this incident to happen, it is for the Indians to explain,” Babar said