*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) KOLKATA, India - September 8, 2009: Almost 24 hours after arms and ammunition were detected aboard an UAE Air Force aircraft at the NSC Bose Airport, authorities here have made no "arrests" or "seizures", awaiting a nod from the Ministry of External Office, which has got in touch with the UAE authorities. 
The C-130 plane was on its way to Hanyang in China from Abu Dhabi when it landed at the NSC Bose International airport for refuelling at 5.30 pm on Sunday. The arms and ammunition were detected in it during the routine physical check following which the plane and the crew on board were detained for detailed interrogation, customs authorities said. The UAE plane was granted permission to land by the Indian Air Force after the Air Traffic Control contacted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which asked it to get in touch with the IAF.
Customs and airport officials are waiting for instructions from the MEA and defence ministry whether to let the aircraft take off or not. Both the aircraft and its crew officially remained "detained". Customs and Air Force officers interrogated them later.
Through the day, the authorities remained tightlipped over the developments.
"We have interrogated the crew and just detained them so far. It seems there has been a miscommunication as a result of which the information regarding arms and ammunition on board was not disclosed. Our commissioner Sandip Kumar spoke to the crew. We have made no arrests or seizures. At present, we are awaiting clearance from External Affairs and Defence ministries and thereafter we will let them go," said a Customs public relations officer attached to the NSC Bose Airport.
Sources said after the detention of the aircraft, high-level talks have begun between the MEA, UAE and China to resolve the impasse. Customs officials have been directed to "detain" the plane and its crew till further orders.
It all began when the UAE aircraft requested and was allowed to land at NSC Bose airport in Kolkata around 5 pm on Sunday. The C-130 military plane and its 10-member crew had landed for refuelling.
The aircraft, which took off from Abu Dhabi, was headed for Xianyang International Airport in China. During the check, arms and explosives were found aboard the aircraft in violation of a declaration that allowed them to land for refuelling in the city.
"It was a non-scheduled stop for the aircraft and according to rules, our officers checked it," added the Customs PRO.
Though the aircraft had documents from the Defence Ministry clearing its flight in the Indian airspace, the document made no mention of arms and ammunition.
"According to rules, it is mandatory for an aircraft to declare that it is carrying arms. Our Air Force was informed and it took up the matter with the MEA," said Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani, the defence ministry CPRO in Kolkata.
According to sources, the UAE government had sought permission from the Indian Air Force to let the aircraft fly over Indian airspace on September 2 and the permission was granted.
Since their detention on Sunday evening, the captain and the nine other crew members have been accommodated at a private luxury hotel off EM Bypass. The aircraft is sealed and parked at a bay near hangar number 14 of the airport.
On Monday, the crew members were interrogated in phases but not arrested.
The C-130 plane was on its way to Hanyang in China from Abu Dhabi when it landed at the NSC Bose International airport for refuelling at 5.30 pm on Sunday. The arms and ammunition were detected in it during the routine physical check following which the plane and the crew on board were detained for detailed interrogation, customs authorities said. The UAE plane was granted permission to land by the Indian Air Force after the Air Traffic Control contacted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which asked it to get in touch with the IAF.
Customs and airport officials are waiting for instructions from the MEA and defence ministry whether to let the aircraft take off or not. Both the aircraft and its crew officially remained "detained". Customs and Air Force officers interrogated them later.
Through the day, the authorities remained tightlipped over the developments.
"We have interrogated the crew and just detained them so far. It seems there has been a miscommunication as a result of which the information regarding arms and ammunition on board was not disclosed. Our commissioner Sandip Kumar spoke to the crew. We have made no arrests or seizures. At present, we are awaiting clearance from External Affairs and Defence ministries and thereafter we will let them go," said a Customs public relations officer attached to the NSC Bose Airport.
Sources said after the detention of the aircraft, high-level talks have begun between the MEA, UAE and China to resolve the impasse. Customs officials have been directed to "detain" the plane and its crew till further orders.
It all began when the UAE aircraft requested and was allowed to land at NSC Bose airport in Kolkata around 5 pm on Sunday. The C-130 military plane and its 10-member crew had landed for refuelling.
The aircraft, which took off from Abu Dhabi, was headed for Xianyang International Airport in China. During the check, arms and explosives were found aboard the aircraft in violation of a declaration that allowed them to land for refuelling in the city.
"It was a non-scheduled stop for the aircraft and according to rules, our officers checked it," added the Customs PRO.
Though the aircraft had documents from the Defence Ministry clearing its flight in the Indian airspace, the document made no mention of arms and ammunition.
"According to rules, it is mandatory for an aircraft to declare that it is carrying arms. Our Air Force was informed and it took up the matter with the MEA," said Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani, the defence ministry CPRO in Kolkata.
According to sources, the UAE government had sought permission from the Indian Air Force to let the aircraft fly over Indian airspace on September 2 and the permission was granted.
Since their detention on Sunday evening, the captain and the nine other crew members have been accommodated at a private luxury hotel off EM Bypass. The aircraft is sealed and parked at a bay near hangar number 14 of the airport.
On Monday, the crew members were interrogated in phases but not arrested.
1 comment:
Perhaps an insight in what the four massive Boeing C-17s ordered by the UAE Air Force will be used for.
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