RB News World Latest News
Related Articles
Till date you must have heard about smuggling of goods like gold, diamonds, jewels, drugs, but you will be surprised to know that Iran has smuggled two big airplanes. Iran has done such a feat that the Americans and the western world are stunned. We tell you what was Iran’s Operation ‘Mahaan’ and how it was carried out.
The story begins from the European country Lithuania. There, a deal is made to buy three airplanes – A340 for the airbase. These three airplanes belonged to MACKA INVEST, a company of the African country Gambia, which gives airplanes on rent. According to the investigation of the Lithuanian government, a company associated with the Iran Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) changes its identity and deals for these three planes.
Plan made for smuggling of airplanes
According to the agreement, there is talk of sending one ship to Sri Lanka and two ships to the Philippines. The African company MACKA INVEST instructs two planes to fly from Siauliai Airport in Lithuania to Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Lithuania’s air traffic control is informed that one plane is going to Sri Lanka and the other to the Philippines. The third plane remains at Siauliai airport.
Both planes take off from Lithuania’s airspace and reach Iran’s airspace and then the transponders of both planes are switched off. That is, both planes disappear from all types of radars and navigation. The Lithuanian government thinks that both planes have reached their respective destinations, whereas their destination is not Sri Lanka or Philippines but Iran.
One plane lands in Tehran and the other in Chabahar. Preparations are also made to send the third Airbus A340 to Iran, but by then the matter comes to light. The Lithuanian government stops the third plane. Both the planes that have reached Iran have now been handed over to Iran’s airline company Mahan Air.
Iran is prohibited from buying planes
Due to the various sanctions imposed on Iran, Iranian airlines are facing a shortage of planes. According to information, Iran needs about 400 planes. Iran cannot buy airplanes or helicopters from any aircraft manufacturing company even if it wants to. The situation is such that many airplanes in Iran are not able to fly due to non-availability of spare parts. Parts of one airplane are removed and fitted in another airplane. Looking at the need of airplanes, Iran is now trying to fulfill it through smuggling.
Lithuania’s argument regarding Iran’s operation
Lithuania says that its traffic control is responsible only for its airspace. The Lithuanian government cannot do anything about what happens to the plane after it leaves Lithuania or where it goes. The third airplane of the African company has been stopped because according to the investigation agency, there was a plan to send it to Iran as well. Lithuania has also given information about this operation of Iran. This incident happened in February and has come to light now.
