US plane with marines made to land in Mumbai

Mumbai/New Delhi: An American chartered aircraft with 205 passengers, including US marines on board, was forced to land at Mumbai airport today for alleged violation of the Indian airspace.
The plane was on way from Fujiriah in the UAE to Bangkok, a Mumbai International Airport Limited spokesperson said.
"A US aircraft with 205 passengers, including its crew and US troops on board was made to land in Mumbai while overflying Indian airspace as there was some confusion about its call sign," he said.
The aircraft landed at Mumbai airport at 7.52am and has been parked at a remote bay, he said, adding all passengers are on board the plane.
Giving details of the incident, IAF spokesperson Wing Commander T K Singha told PTI in Delhi that the aircraft is a US military chartered Boeing 767 plane belonging to North American Airlines.
"It is a transport aircraft, which was going to Utapao in Bangkok from Fujiriah in UAE. It had civilian clearance from directorate general of civil aviation to fly over Indian airspace. However, it was carrying military personnel, for which the aircraft should have obtained Air Operation Routing clearance (AOR), needed for a military aircraft," he said.
"Once it entered Indian air space, the IAF ordered the aircraft through radio communication to land in Mumbai, to which it complied with. An inquiry is on in the matter."
"We are aware of the situation, and are in touch with relevant officials to resolve this issue, which is a routine matter," a US embassy spokesperson said in Delhi. This is the fourth such incident of a foreign aircraft violating Indian airspace since June this year.
18/10/09 PTI/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Airports Oct 2009, Foreign Oct 2009, Safety Oct 2009