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Impounded plane allowed to fly out of India |
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The Indian government has allowed a Russian aircraft to fly out from Mumbai airport after it was reportedly impounded for carrying ammunition and other military equipment.
Newspaper reports had said officials of the Military Liaison Unit seized the An-124 freighter aircraft at Mumbai airport on Tuesday night.
Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad, who asked for a report from Mumbai authorities following the episode, said: “The plane was allowed to leave Thursday morning after the Director General of Civil Aviation carried out a probe.
“We did not find any ammunition or any armoured vehicles in the aircraft,” Prasad said.
The freighter aircraft, on a flight from Singapore to Kuwait, was to land in Mumbai Wednesday for refueling according to its flight plan.
But it was diverted to Pune because of logistical problems at Mumbai airport. After the diversion, airport authorities reportedly found the plane was carrying ammunition.
Authorities at Pune airport, which is under the control of the Indian Air Force, then advised crew members of the aircraft to return to Mumbai.
When questioned, the pilot refused to give anything in writing on the cargo on board and the plane was impounded.
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