In a statement released by High Commission of India this evening, they clarified that all aviation platforms operated by Indian military personnel, including the helicopter in question, operate within agreed procedures.
Responding to a statement by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) alleging that Indian military personnel operating helicopters gifted by the Indian government had taken a trip without notifying the Maldivian military during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration, the High Commission of India in Maldives said that the helicopter had landed in Thimarafushi due to an unforeseen situation.
In a press conference held on May 11 by the MNDF, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the replacement of Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives to operate military aircraft with civilian experts from India. All the Indian military personnel in the Maldives for the purpose have left the country by May 10, as agreed upon by the two countries.
Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon during the conference said that the issue had been raised in the Parliament's Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee) when he had been serving in the committee in his earlier capacity as a member of parliament.
"In the past five years when I have worked in the parliament, there is an instance where the 241 Committee has looked into the matter of a flight having been conducted without authorization from Maldivians. At the time, a helicopter had been flown without Maldivian authorization. In that incident, they landed in Thimarafushi," Minister Ghassan said.
In a statement released by High Commission of India on Tuesday evening, they clarified that all aviation platforms operated by Indian military personnel, including the helicopter in question, operate within agreed procedures.
"The specific helicopter trip on October 9, 2019 referred to at the press conference was also undertaken at the approval of MNDF"
According to High Commission, the landing was necessitated by an unforeseen situation. They added that all necessary approvals from air traffic control were obtained on the ground prior to the landing, ensuring the safety and security of the platform and its crew.
Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy stated that the unauthorized flight had taken place, with the Indian military personnel landing the helicopter in the island of Thimarafushi in Thaa atoll, about 222 km south of the capital city of Male'.
"They were notified that the helicopter and Dornier can only be operated with authorization from the Maldivian military," Hilmy said.
While there were allegations from different entities at the time that the aircrafts were being operated without authorization, both the Defence Ministry and MNDF senior officials denied the allegations at the time and claimed there was absolute control over the aircrafts and their operations.
The Maldives government has now replaced 76 military personnel stationed in the Maldives to operate the flights with an equal number of civilian employees of the helicopter's manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Minister Ghassan has stated that with this change, MNDF and the Defence Ministry has now gained complete command and control of the aircrafts.
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