Airspace violation: US military aircraft to take off

Government on Saturday (June 20) cleared take off of US-hired AN-124 aircraft detained at Mumbai airport. The US hired military aircraft that had violated Indian airspace last night and was detained at the Mumbai airport has got a clearance for take off at 4.30 PM.
The crew told Indian authorities that they weren't aware about seeking special permission to transport military equipment. They have been let off with a warning.
The AN-124, the largest heavy transport aircraft manufactured by Ukrainian Antonov company with NATO code name Condor, was carrying military cargo, which included land vehicles, equipment and weapons for the US' fight against terrorism in Afghanistan, they said.
".. The aircraft, chartered by the US military, took off from Diego Garcia, a US military base on an island near Mauritius in the Indian Ocean," the IAF officials said.
The IAF's South Western Air Command (SWAC) air defence 'Movement Liaison Unit', which noticed the aircraft, activated the standard operating procedures under which the Air Traffic Control ordered the cargo chartered plane to land at Mumbai.
IAF officials said there were a total of 18 persons on board the aircraft, including a five-member crew. Securitymen from the CISF had cordoned off the aircraft and sleuths from the Intelligence Bureau and officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation carried out checks in the plane's cargo hold. They also questioned the crew and passengers on board the aircraft, they added.
20/06/09 Times Now.tv

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Categories: Airports Jun 2009, Foreign Jun 2009, Safety Jun 2009