Kolkata: India is in touch with the UAE
government over the detention of the China-bound cargo plane
of its Air Force after arms and ammunition were found onboard
and customs authorities were awaiting clearance before the
aircraft can be allowed to resume its flight.
The interrogation of the pilot and nine crew members of
the C-130 Hercules aircraft which remained in detention for
the third day today have been also completed and the Customs
had sent detailed reports to the External Affairs Ministry
last night, airport officials said. The 10 crew members have
been shifted to another hotel for "security reasons".
"The decision to allow the plane to take off from here
will be taken by the Ministry of External Affairs, which is in
touch with the UAE government ...It is not certain when it
would be permitted to take off," airport officials said.
The plane is parked at bay number 14 at the NSC Bose
International Airport under a tight cordon by army jawans and
no one is allowed to go near it, they said.
The plane, which was on its way to Hanyang in China
from Abu Dhabi, landed at the NSC Bose International airport
for refuelling at 5.30 pm on Sunday. Its crew-members had not
informed in their routine declaration to the airport
authorities and customs that ammunition were in the plane.
An important column in the declaration format was also
left blank, Army sources said.
The arms and ammunition were detected during a routine
check and the plane and its crew were detained for detailed
interrogation.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, September 08, 2009, 18:47