India forces chartered US cargo plane to land in Mumbai

New Delhi: Reports say Indian air traffic controllers have ordered a cargo plane chartered by the US government to land at Mumbai airport after it violated Indian air space.

Press Trust of India is quoting Indian air force spokesman Wing Commander T.K. Singha as saying that the Russian AN-124 aircraft did not have permission to fly over Indian airspace, and it was made to land in Mumbai late on Friday night.

Singha could not immediately be reached for independent verification.

A US embassy spokesman in New Delhi says the aircraft was a private carrier under American government contract, but wouldn't comment further.

Press Trust quotes unnamed air force officials as saying the plane was flying from a US military base on Diego Garcia to Kandahar in Afghanistan.