'Pakistan International Airlines' balloon found inside Agra base, probe underway
India Today
While preliminary checks found no device or toxic substance inside, security agencies are examining how the balloon entered the restricted zone, especially amid similar recoveries in border districts in recent months.
A balloon bearing the words “Pakistan International Airlines” (PIA) was found inside the technical area of the Air Force Station in Agra on February 12, triggering a multi-agency probe. According to officials, the plane-shaped balloon was spotted around 9 am within the restricted technical zone of the airbase. The balloon was green and white and also carried some writing in Urdu.
After preliminary checks, it was seized and handed over to the Shahganj police station, where an FIR has been registered on a complaint from the Air Force.
Police, intelligence agencies and the Indian Air Force are examining the incident from all angles. CCTV footage from the surrounding area is being scanned to determine how the balloon entered the high-security technical zone.
The balloon is reported to be large with a thread of approximately 10 metres attached to it. The presence of the Pakistan International Airlines name and logo has raised serious security questions, particularly given heightened vigilance amid ongoing cross-border tensions.
Senior police officer Gaurav Singh said that initial examination found no technical device or toxic gas inside the balloon. “In the preliminary investigation, no technical device or toxic gas was found inside the balloon. The investigation is ongoing,” he said.
Security agencies are also looking at earlier instances of similar balloons being found in border districts. Three days ago, a balloon with “Pakistan International Airlines” written on it was recovered in Rajasthan's Bikaner. In December 2024, a similar aircraft-shaped balloon was found, also in Bikaner.
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