Delhi rubbishes Jakarta charges of Agni forcing plane return

New Delhi: India was on Friday unapologetic after its Agni-III test stirred diplomatic feathers in Indonesia and caused an Air India flight to turn around.
After reports that a Garuda Indonesia aircraft carrying 413 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia was forced to turn back, the ministry of external affairs spokesperson, Navtej Sarna, refused to plead guilty.
"A notice was sent a week before the test by the Indian civil aviation authorities to ATC, Jakarta, and other ATCs in the region informing them about the launch window dates, danger time, zone and height. The ATCs were requested to take action to issue the NOTAM (Notice to Aviators and Mariners)."
The Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman, Kristiarto Legowo, however, kept up the protest. "We will summon India's diplomat here soon to seek an official clarification. We have to make sure this does not happen in the future."
The Garuda Indonesia plane was carrying pilgrims from its capital, Jakarta, to Saudi Arabia, when pilots saw the fast-moving streak across the sky, the airline's director, Ari Sapari, said.
There had been no advance warning about the test launch, he said, adding that the Boeing 747 immediately returned to Jakarta and then took off again for Jeddah and Riyadh four hours later.
14/04/07 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Apr 2007, Foreign Apr 2007, Safety Apr 2007