Entebbe Aircraft Violated Rwanda Airspace - Official
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The New Times (Kigali)
March 30, 2005
Posted to the web March 30, 2005
Kigali
Entebbe airport cleared the controversial plane currently being held by the Civil Aviation Authority in Kigali, for violating the Rwandan airspace, among other anomalies, it has emerged.
It has also been established that the plane, an Antonov 28, Reg. No. EX 28811, had no Flight Plan on board and was doubly-registered.
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According to officials at the Kigali International Airport, this was a violation of international aviation regulations.
The official wondered why the Entebbe International Airport, had cleared the plane well-aware that the procedure was not in tandem with the CAA regulations. He added that violation of aviation rules such as lack of accurate documentation and carrying of contraband cargo cannot be tolerated by the Rwandan government.
Efforts to contact the Managing Director of Uganda Civil Mr. Ambrose Akandonda over the matter on phone in Kampala Tuesday were fruitless.
The CAA Spokesman, Ignie Igunduura, when contacted on phone acknowledged that the plane had been in Entebbe but could not confirm or deny whether the Ugandan CAA had verified that the plane had a double-registration or lacked a Flight Plan.
"I don't have that record," is all Igunduura said on phone. He also told The New Times to 'check with the DRC or Kyrgyzstan aviation authorities' about the aircraft's double-registration.
However, last week a source at the Kigali International Airport told The New Times that it is against aviation rules to double-register a plane. He also said that the officials in Entebbe should have checked the Flight Plan before allowing the plane to leave. The Antonov is registered both in Kyrgyzstan and the DRC.
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Another source close to the Uganda CAA confirmed that they were aware of the incident and lamented that such dubious cases are commonplace. He gave an example of the Porter Commission that established that some planes that are cleared to take off and land in Entebbe lack the requisite documentation.
The Antonov that was carrying suspect cargo and eight people, two Congolese and six people from Kyrgyzstan, is currently being held by the CAA in Kigali as the police carry out further investigations.
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