Two Indian military aircraft have landed in Hanimaadhoo International Airport earlier today much to the surprise of the Island Council which says it was not officially aware of the landing.
Clarifying the situation Maldives National Defense Force said that the MNDF Coast Guard and Indian Navy will assume a continuation of the joint aerial surveillance patrol of the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone today.
It said that this is a series of continued joint maritime enforcement operations undertaken by the two maritime forces since 2009.
Speaking to ‘The Press’ about the unscheduled landing of two foreign military aircraft, the Hanimaadhoo council said two Indian Dornier Aircraft had landed at Hanimaadhoo International Airport today and that it was not made aware of the landing in an official capacity from any authority.
The Council said that individuals who arrived are still at the Airport area and had rented out 8 rooms from Airport Lodgings.
With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading widely in the country and around the world, the passengers aboard the two aircraft can only move within the island after completing 14-days of home quarantine.
Although it is unclear whether passengers had sought prior consent from local public health authorities, the Hanimaadhoo council had now notified Health Protection Agency HPA of the landing.
Two Indian aircraft landed in Hanimaadhoo as many voiced concerns about foreign troops being stationed in the Maldives and with the opposition accusing the government of ‘selling’ Maldivian assets to India.
