American Spy Plane Violates Uganda, DRC Congo Air Spaces.

Story by Inder Singh Bisht

A Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft. Image: Creative Commons

An alleged US spy plane breached the airspaces of Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last month, according to Ugandan media.

The violations were recorded three times on November 14, 15, and 26, Kampala Post reported, citing military sources.

According to the outlet, a Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft flew over Kasese and Bundibugyo in Uganda and Beni in the DRC.

The aircraft, with the tail number N9191, is leased by the US Department of Defense and is used for surveillance, the outlet added.

It is based out of Djibouti, which houses a US Navy base.

False Permission Sought

The US Defence Attaché’s Office in Kampala had sought permission for the aircraft to transport personnel and cargo to the DRC. 

However, a probe was ordered after it never landed at its destination and was spotted making “suspicious maneuvers” in both the countries’ airspaces, Kampala Post wrote.

The “US controllers of the spy aircraft did not bother to even ask the DRC for permission to enter their airspace,” the outlet wrote. 

“Instead, it was the Ugandan air traffic controllers who notified the understandably enraged DRC air traffic controllers.”

Both Uganda’s President and the Chief of Military Staff have reportedly been apprised of the matter and the aircraft’s earlier authorization has been revoked.

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