MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) announced on Thursday, January 18, 2024, that it had denied entry to a Thai-registered cargo plane (P4-JAG) that was attempting to fly to Sharjah and Hargeisa from Somali airspace.
According to a press release issued by the SCAA, the plane failed to provide information on its cargo and the purpose of its trip, which violated the SCAA’s regulations. The plane was ordered to turn back and leave Somalia’s airspace immediately.
This was the second incident of a plane being turned back from Somali airspace in recent months, amid rising tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over the disputed maritime border. Somalia has regained control of its airspace in 2018, after 30 years of disruption, and has upgraded it to Class A in 2023, which requires more stringent air traffic control services.
