India: Chartered U.S. Aircraft Forced to Land at Mumbai Airport; “Confusion About Its Call Sign”; 205 Marines Aboard
October 18th, 2009Via: Times of India:
A US aircraft with 205 American marine commandos on board was on Sunday made to land at Mumbai airport for allegedly violating the Indian airspace.
The chartered plane was on its way from Fujiriah in UAE to Bangkok, an airport official said. The aircraft was using a civilian call sign, officials said.
“A US aircraft with 205 US Marines on board, on its way from Fujiriah to Bangkok, was forced to land in Mumbai while overflying Indian airspace as there was some confusion about its call sign,” a Mumbai airport spokesperson said.
The aircraft landed at Mumbai airport on Sunday morning and has been parked at a remote bay, the spokesperson said adding, all passengers are on board. Indian Air Force is looking into the issue, the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, US authorities said they were in touch with relevant officials to resolve the issue after a US chartered aircraft was forced to land at Mumbai airport for alleged violation of the Indian airspace.
“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.
Assuming Bangkok was indeed its destination, does this mean we might see some interesting activity in that region in the next few weeks?
205 could put on a hell of a show.
Thailand has an insurgency, I guess the Americans where on their way as advisors. Lucky it was not a rendition flight or cia drug plane.
There is a supposed Muslim separatist movement waging a bombing campaign. But what really has my attention is the power struggle between the two parties. The nation is torn between the elites in Bangkok and the vastly more numerous poor rural population. The city folks having been trying pretty hard to keep their system from including a representative count on voting. Someone might be using the bombs and the marines to leverage for power.
Hmm…It’s been a while but still…
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00121.htm