Italian military jets return to the Maldives

Four fighter jets and a cargo plane belonging to the Italian military have landed at Velana International Airport today.

The roaring sound of the jets flying over the Malé area when they landed at the airport attracted the attention of many people, with some sharing videos of the aircrafts soaring in the air.

However, this is not the first time Italy's military aircrafts have made a visit to the island nation, with the jets having landed in Maldives twice last year for refuelling and other logistic purposes.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) confirmed that necessary permits were obtained before the arrival of the American-manufactured Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft, equipped with the latest technology, in the country.

It is common for foreign aircrafts to make stops at Velana International Airport for various reasons such as refuelling after receiving the green light from Maldives' Civil Aviation Authority.