A 737-200 aircraft of Pamir Airways, a private airline based in Afghanistan, en route to Indonesia from Kabul, landed at Thiruvananthapuram international airport on Sunday, causing anxious moments to security agencies.
‘PIR 21,’ with a crew of five - flying from Kabul via Dubai and Colombo to Indonesia - was allowed to land here at 4.40 p.m. after airport authorities in Colombo turned it away.
Airport sources told The Hindu that it went straight from Kabul to Colombo instead of proceeding to Dubai.
“The airport authorities in Colombo denied permission as the flight plan of the Pamir Airways did not reach them,” they said.
The aircraft did not have adequate fuel to fly back and was allowed to land as per international rules. Its doors were allowed to be opened only at 6.30 p.m. after getting clearance.
Intelligence Bureau officials, Central Industrial Security Force personnel and Customs officials inspected the plane. However, the crew were not allowed to come out.
Sources said it did not have any cargo and there was no security threat. The flight will proceed to Colombo once the mandatory permission is received.
