Manama: Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has barred a second plane from entering the Saudi airspace, saying that it did not have the required permit.
The Boeing 767, registered as JY-JAG and operated by Pakistan’s Shaheen Air, had followed the necessary application procedures to fly into the kingdom, but it was denied entry over safety issues and for not meeting international standards, the Saudi authority said.
The plane operated by the private Pakistani carrier was on loan from Jordan Aviation.
“The safety of the Saudi skies and the full commitment to the slightest safety standards is a top priority gr us,” GACA said. “We will not tolerate any abuse of such matters. We also stress that carriers should make sure they have the necessary permits from the destination country before they fly their flights there,” it said.
On Wednesday, GACA barred an Iranian plane carrying 260 passengers flying to Saudi Arabia to perform the Umrah from entering Saudi airspace.
The authority said the plane did not have the required permission to fly into the kingdom.
“The Authority applies the international rules that require a prior permission, and any violation be it by the Iranian airlines or any other airline, cannot be tolerated and the plane is barred from entering Saudi airspace,” Khalid Al Khaibari, the spokesperson for GACA, said.
The permission includes the type of the plane as well as other documents to help ensure the safety of the passengers, he added.
“Any airline that plans to fly a plane to another country must submit a request that is in line with international systems and standards,” he said.
