In June 2019, An Indian Air Force Plane carrying 13 en route from Jorhat AirportinAssam went missing while en route to the airstrip.[1] The aircraft's wreckage was found in the Siang district after eight days after being spotted by an MI 17 helicopter that was on a search & rescue mission.[2]
The area has a significant military presence, which also creates some employment opportunities for civilians.[3] The airstrip is used frequently to bring in vital supplies from Assam via Antonov-32 aircraft and helicopters. The runway was renovated, strengthened, upgraded to a concrete runway and extended to 4,700 feet in 2017 by the government.In July 2018, Indian Air Force made a history by landing the C-17 Globemaster IIIatMechuka ALG.It would make the military logistics transportation easier to the border areas in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India.[4][5]
There is a twice-weekly helicopter service offered under the UDAN scheme on Monday and Saturday.[3]Government of Arunachal Pradesh has invited bids from the private airlines to operate a 9-searter fixed-wing air service which will not be under the UDAN scheme.[3][6]
As of December 2022, the new passenger terminal for handling passenger traffic is almost completed, and is expected to begin operations soon with Alliance Air's Dornier 228 passenger aircraft.[7]
