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| September 8, 2009 | Report on detained plane sent to Centre | | Kolkata: Kolkata officials have sent a report to New Delhi on the detained China-bound UAE military aircraft that was carrying a huge consignment of undeclared arms and explosives. The plane is still grounded while
its crew has been released but asked not leave Kolkata. The UAE government meanwhile
said on Tuesday that it was in "constant contact" with the Indian officials over
its Air Force plane. UAE Foreign Ministry's Director-General Juma Al Junaibi confirmed
in a statement in which he stressed the deep-rooted relations between the UAE
and India and also reiterated UAE's respect for India's sovereignty. The China-bound
cargo plane of the United Arab Emirates Air Force was detained and its ten crew
members including the pilot questioned when customs officials found arms and ammunition
on board the aircraft after it made a scheduled transit landing at the Kolkata
airport. Sources say Kolkata Customs Officials have sent the information to the
Defence, Finance and External Affairs Ministries at the centre. On Sunday, the
plane was on its way to China and had requested permission for landing. The ATC
asked it to identify its cargo. When the pilot said it was arms, the plane was
detained in the hangar at Kolkata airport. Customs was asked to inspect the cargo,
and the captain refused saying he had no permission. The Indian authorities soon
discovered a large amount of arms and explosives on board, and the crew of the
plane was questioned for several hours. According to TIMES NOW, the report sent
to the three ministries contains information about the cargo on the aircraft listing
all the arms and ammunition found on board. The ministries have also been sent
a copy of a document from the UAE embassy before the plane landed clearly stating
that the plane was not carrying any ammunition. Details have also been submitted
of how the Delhi Regional Command gave the plane the go ahead to land in Kolkata
when it had not declared the true nature of its cargo. The concerned ministries
could seek further clarifications from the UAE embassy over why the plane's crew
said there were no arms or ammunition on board. The Centre could also demand answers
from the Delhi Regional Command on why it gave the plane permission to land. If
satisfied with the explanations, the plane may be permitted to fly out of the
country.
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