'Atlas Air' Cargo Plane Detained at Mumbai

New Delhi, Jul 31: A 'suspicious' plane was forced to land at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) early this morning following its illegal entry into Indian air space after having filed ''dubious'' Air Operations Routine (AOR) about its itinerary.

Indian Air Force Spokesperson here Wing Commander Sanjeev Sharma said a Boeing-747 cargo plane, reportedly owned by the Atlas Cargo Company of the United States and claiming to be flying between Nairobi and Hong Kong, was ordered to land at Mumbai during the night after doubts were raised about its antecedents.

The permission to fly within Indian air space enroute was denied by the IAF South Western Air Command (SWAC) as initially the aircraft had filed its flight AOR as an US Air Force plane.

''Since no Air Operations Routine (AOR) was available for this aircraft or any other military aircraft flying this route from July 27 to August 1, the Mumbai Movement Liaision Unit (MLU) was advised to inform the aircraft through Mumbai Flight Information Centre (FIC) that it was not permitted to enter Indian airspace,'' Wg Cdr Sharma said.

''Mumbai MLU had called the Indian Air Force at 2205Hrs last night to confirm clearance for 'a United States Air Force Boeing-747 aircraft flying from Nairobi to Hong Kong' and entering Indian airspace at ORLID (reporting point) at 0047Hrs IST....

''At 2300Hrs, Mumbai MLU called IAF SWAC to inform that the aircraft was now coming as a civil registered aircraft operated by Atlas Air and had obtained clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)... the MLU also asked for Operations Room advice....'' The SWAC Duty Officer told Mumbai MLU to follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). ''Consequently, this morning at 0055Hrs, Duty Officer South Western Air Command called Mumbai MLU to inform that he was refusing clearance to this aircraft due to the suspicious change in aircraft particulars from military to civil.

''At 0210Hrs, he informed that the aircraft was being asked to land at Mumbai to verify its antecedents. He was then advised to keep the Operations Room informed on the status of the aircraft after it lands,'' Wg Cdr Sharma said.

The aircraft landed at Mumbai's CSIA at 0303Hrs and was checked by Duty Officer Mumbai MLU who confirmed that it was a civil registered aircraft and the pilot had stated that there was ''a mix up'' by Nairobi Air Traffic Control (ATC) in forwarding the aircraft particulars, the IAF spokesperson said.

The plane, which carried no cargo, had a four-member crew onboard -- all were now being questioned by the authorities for giving an incorrect identity code to the Air Traffic Control. Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials, too, were investigating.

The aircraft was still at Mumbai and was yet to file a further Flight Plan.

UNI