TEHRAN An Iranian A-300' plane bound for Bangkok with 208 passengers and crew on board was forced to land at Bombay Airport on Monday morning, according to an official of the private Mahan Airline, which owns the airliner.
Speaking to the TEHRAN TIMES, the Deputy Managing Director of Mahan Airline for Commercial Affairs, Mahdi Bahrami, said that although the plane had the flight permit, it was forced to land by the Indian authorities at Air Traffic Control in Gujrat state when it was flying over Ahmedabad at 01:00 local time.
Bahrami said that the Indian officials asked for $13,000 in order to allow the plane to continue with its flight, "but the pilot said he had the necessary permit and documents for the flight and did not comply with the request." "This is not the first forced landing of the Iranian planes crossing the Indian airspace," he noted, adding that "The Indian officials do this in order to obtain money, and we request the officials of our country to take the necessary measures in the face of such actions by the Indian officials." Bahrami went on to say, "It is worth noting that recently an Indian plane that was headed from Calcutta for London asked for an emergency landing while crossing the Iranian airspace, and the Iranian aviation officials and those at the Mehrabad International Airport took all the necessary measures and provided the due facilities for the Indian airliner. Consequently, India's aviation officials expressed their gratitude to the Iranian officials for their help.
Now, it is very regrettable that the Indian officials treat our airliners crossing their airspace in such manner.
" Regarding the fate of the Iranian airliner that was forced to land at Bombay Airport, Bahrami said, "Since the crew did not have that money, the passengers paid the money and the plane was allowed to resume its flight after a nine-hour delay." He said that as a result of the delay at Bombay airport, 26 passengers, including a pregnant woman, became seriously ill and fell in need of medical treatment.
Another official at the Mahan Airline said that the Indian officials may have forced the plane to land to make sure that it was equipped with the Traffic Collision Avoidance System.
Iran's Consul General in Bombay, Honardoust, told IRNA that the problem with Mahan Airliner was of technical nature, adding that the crew of the plane called for the assistance of the Iran Air Office in Bombay.
He said that no order was received from Tehran to allow the payment of $13,000 for the airport charges.