| Submit your comments on this article | |||
| Afghanistan | |||
| US Military Charter Plane Forced to Land In Iran By Fighter Jets | |||
| 2014-09-06 | |||
| An aircraft chartered by coalition forces in Afghanistan, en route from Bagram air base to Dubai, landed Friday in Bandar Abbas, Iran, after Iranian officials questioned its flight plan, U.S. officials said. The plane had been contacted by Iranian air traffic controllers, who instructed it to return to Afghanistan and file the correct plan. When the pilots informed the Iranians they did not have enough fuel to return to Bagram, they were asked to land. One official said Iranian fighter jets had escorted the plane, which was carrying approximately 100 Americans and possibly a pair of Canadians, to the ground. Other officials denied that, and said the plane landed on its own. It was expected to resume its flight quickly. The plane was chartered from Fly Dubai, a company based in the United Arab Emirates. A spokeswoman for the UAE Embassy in Washington said she was aware of the incident but did not have additional information.
"A Fly Dubai charter plane flying from Bagram Air Field to Dubai was re-routed to Bandar Abbas, Iran because of a bureaucratic issue today," the official said. "Contrary to press reports, this plane was not forced down by the Iranian military," the official added. "The issue appears to have been resolved and hopefully the plane will be able to take off soon."
“We appreciate the efforts of all parties to help the passengers get safely to their destination,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement. She described the problem as a “bureaucratic issue” with the plane’s flight plan.
| |||
| Posted by:Ebbomosh Hupemp2664 |
| #3 That flight is always late, sometimes seven or eight hours late. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2014-09-06 20:50 |
| #2 Oh, a Par 3 course? Hello, we must be leaving. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2014-09-06 17:34 |
| #1 This whole thing/set-up/plan seems too convenient. |
| Posted by: Anice Nim 2014-09-06 14:42 |