MEA to facilitate release of arms-laden UAE plane

New Delhi: External affairs minister S M Krishna on Tuesday said his ministry would facilitate early release of the United Arab Emirates Air Force plane that was detained in Kolkata after arms and ammunition were found on board.
The decision to facilitate early release of the China-bound plane was taken after the UAE government and embassy in New Delhi "formally regretted" not divulging contents of the cargo and that matter was reduced to a "technical error".
"The UAE authorities both here and in Abu Dhabi have since formally regretted the omission in clearly indicating items carried by the aircraft and have described it as a 'technical error'. They have also provided details about the cargo which consists of combat missile," Mr Krishna said.
The UAE embassy had asked for clearance for overflying and landing of the Air Force flight at Kolkata Airport, but made no mention of the contents of the cargo. The C-130 Hercules, which is among the biggest transport aircraft in the world, had taken off from UAEAF's Western Air Command base in Abu Dhabi and was on its way to Xiangyang in China.
09/09/09 Economic Times

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Categories: Airports Sep 2009, Foreign Sep 2009, Safety Sep 2009