A purported letter from the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) circulating on social media about an alleged unauthorized landing of one of two helicopters donated by India in Thaa Thimarafushi is fake, MNDF said yesterday.
The letter allegedly sent by MNDF had previously been shared on social media as well. The same letter resurfaced after Defense Ghassan Maumoon told the press on Saturday that a helicopter landed in Thimarafushi without authorization in October 2019. The army chief also said at the press conference that the Indian naval contingent had been told not to fly the helicopter without permission.
"As the letter circulating on social media was not signed, it can't be known that this was a letter sent from MNDF to anyone," the MNDF media official told Adhadhu. The official also denied that a different letter had been sent in the same language.
Alleged MNDF letter circulating on social media.
After Ghassan's allegations, the Indian High Commission put out a statement on Tuesday and said that "Indian aviation platforms in the Maldives have always operated as per agreed procedures and with due authorization from MNDF."
The flight with the emergency landing in Thimarafushi had also been "undertaken with the approval of MNDF." The helicopter landed after taking necessary on-ground approvals from the ATC, the Indian High Commission said.
The two helicopters and Dornier aircraft, which were previously operated by the Indian military personnel, are now operated by technicians from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, a state-owned company under the direct control of the Indian Army.
