Kolkata: The aircraft belonging to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) air force, which was illegally carrying arms when it landed in Kolkata, has still not been allowed to take off.
NDTV has learnt from sources that the issue had become highly sensitive.
The aircraft had diplomatic clearance to land at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose airport in Kolkata for refueling. After the flight landed, the captain declared that the plane was carrying arms.
The plane has been sealed and kept in one corner of the Kolkata airport. The nine crew members have been put up at a hotel.
The aircraft was on its way to Hanyang in China from Abu Dhabi and had landed at Kolkata airport to refuel around 5.30 pm on Sunday. When arms and ammunition were discovered on board, the aircraft and the crew members were detained overnight.
When asked about the plane's detention, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said, "The UAE plane has been detained for investigations. UAE authorities have told us it was pilot's technical mistake."