The CEO of Ethiopian Airlines told the BBC that the aircraft was called back before it could enter Somalia’s airspace on its way to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland.
Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew says the aircraft, which was heading from Addis Ababa to Hargeisa, was forced to return to Addis Ababa because someone said it didn’t have permission from Somalia.
“The plane that was bound for Hargeisa has returned. “Because there was a question that it did not give us permission from Somalia after the plane started the flight,” he said, providing clarification on the situation.
According to the aircraft tracking service Flytradar24, it is January 14, 2023. Two trips have been made to Somalia.
At 5 p.m., the normal flight ET372 landed in Hargeisa, according to Flightradar.
However, the de Havilland-400 aircraft, registration as ET8372, departed Addis Ababa at around 2:30 in the morning and travelled towards Hargeisa.
Following the announcement that Ethiopian Airlines’ ET8372 was not permitted to land in Hargeisa, Somali Civil Aviation made the declaration.
The CEO refused to comply with the instruction and concealed information about the airline whose plane was turned around and the people who were on board.
Daoud Aweisa, Somalia’s Minister of Information, told the BBC that the plane carrying Ethiopia’s top officials was turned away from Hargeisa.
The CEO, Ato Mesfen, told the BBC that the plane was prevented from arriving at its destination, but that it was allowed to continue after a speech about it.
Since Ethiopia and Somaliland, which declared its independence, signed a memorandum of understanding a few weeks ago that would allow Ethiopia access to the coast, tensions between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu have grown.
Somalia was incensed that Ethiopia and Somaliland had signed this deal, and it vehemently objected to it, calling it an infringement on its sovereignty.