Detained US plane to leave Mumbai today

Mumbai, Oct.19 (ANI): A Bangkok-bound US military plane, which was grounded in Mumbai on Sunday for flouting Indian aviation rules, will leave on Monday.

This is the second instance of a US plane violating Indian airspace, but the Indian Air Force gave the green signal for the plane to leave after hectic parleys with US embassy officials in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs and US authorities.

All the 205 passengers, who were on board the plane, were on Sunday night shifted to a five-star hotel in the western suburbs of Mumbai. Security has been beefed up in and around the hotel premises.

The chartered US military aircraft - Boeing 767 - belongs to the North American Airlines. The plane was carrying 205 US Marines from Fujairah, UAE to Bangkok.

The Indian Air Force ordered the plane to land on Sunday morning at the Mumbai Airport after it found a discrepancy in the aircraft's call sign. After a seven-hour drama, it was given the go-ahead to proceed. (ANI)