IANS

Mumbai, Oct 18 : After a seven-hour drama, a chartered US military aircraft that was detained at Mumbai airport Sunday morning by Indian authorities after it failed to correctly identify itself, was given the green signal to proceed, an airport official said.

"The customs, immigration and other procedural formalities are being completed. The aircraft is expected to take off around 2.30 p.m.," the official said.

The chartered Boeing 767 belonging to North American airlines, carrying 205 US Marines from Fujairah (UAE) to Bangkok (Thailand), was ordered by the Indian Air Force to land at Mumbai airport. It landed at 7.52 a.m. after the Air Traffic Control (ATC) found a discrepancy in its call sign.

The aircraft was directed to a remote parking bay of the airport even as security and civilian personnel carried out further investigations. The US marines were reportedly going on a holiday to Bangkok.

Officials of the IAF, Central Industrial Security Force and Mumbai customs reached the aircraft and the IAF questioned the pilot.

The IAF also co-ordinated with the US Embassy in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs and US authorities to sort out the matter.

After hectic parleys, the aircraft was finally given the clearance to leave, the official said.

Earlier Report:

Mumbai, Oct 18 : A US chartered military aircraft bound for Bangkok was ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to land at Mumbai airport Sunday morning following confusion over its identification, an airport source said.

The chartered Boeing 767 aircraft with 205 US Marines aboard was ordered to land at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 7.52 a.m. when its call sign did not match with the sign available with the Mumbai Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Following this, the ATC alerted the IAF which ordered the aircraft to land in Mumbai.

Presently, the aircraft - which was on a flight from Fujairah (UAE) to Bangkok (Thailand) - is parked in a remote bay of the airport with security around it.

Officials of the IAF, Central Industrial Security Force and Mumbai customs are in the aircraft and IAF officials are questioning the pilot.

The IAF, along with the US authorities are presently co-ordinating with New Delhi to sort out the matter before the aircraft is allowed to leave.

The flight was reportedly carrying the US marines on a holiday to Bangkok.