US aircraft detained in India

Mumbai: Airport authorities reported that today the detained US chartered military aircraft finally took off after it was held for over six hours due to problem in its procedural issues.

Indian Air Force (IAF) had ordered the aircraft to land after it observed variance in its identification call, but was cleared by the security agents, airport authorities and relevant departments on Sunday.But still there was a dispute over certain payment charges by the air craft, further delaying its departure.

The Air Traffic Control (ATC) refused to grant the permission for departure when the Boeing 767 pilot could not make arrangements for the payments.The sources said that the north American airliner was detained due to delay in payment arrangements which took around 6 hours to clear up.

ATC declined the offer of paying the charges by the pilot using credit card saying it was unreliable.The pilot consulted the US embassy and US consulate.They decided that all the US marines should take a night stay in Mumbai.

According to the sources, Hyatt Regency was booked for around 205 US marines near the international airport.Monday the aircraft departed for its destination that is Bangkok.Sources also said that the officials of IAF and central Industrial security force and the Mumbai customs they all coordinately quizzed.

Ministry of External Affairs, US embassy in New Delhi, Director General of Civil Aviation and the US authorities were required to arrange its departure, sources said.