A Venezuelan plane, suspicions of links with an organization considered terrorist by the United States, a singular flight plan in Latin America, Iranian crew members with confiscated passports, a judicial inquiry: the soap opera of the cargo ship, grounded in Buenos Aires since June 8, is keeping the Argentines in suspense. Sign of the imbroglio of the situation and the many outstanding questions, the country’s media did not hesitate to rename it “mystery plane”.
Monday, June 6. A fog thickens the sky of Buenos Aires. The Boeing 747, of the company Emtrasur, a subsidiary of the Venezuelan company Conviasa, targeted by American sanctions, encounters a first hitch on its route: for climatic reasons, it must be diverted to Cordoba (central Argentina) before to be able to land a little later at Ezeiza airport, in the suburbs of Buenos Aires.
At the heart of the case, the history of the aircraft and the presence of Iranians on board: the Boeing indeed belonged to the Iranian company Mahan Air, which transferred it to Emtrasur. Which re-registered it in January 2022. However, Mahan Air is considered by Washington to be linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. The carrier is accused by the US Treasury of being a vector for arms and militia transfers between Tehran and its allies in the Middle East. “Ownership of this plane was transferred to a Venezuelan company a year ago and it is not leased to this airline”replied, on June 12, a spokesman for the Iranian company, assuring that the Boeing no longer belonged to him.
Information from “foreign agencies”
On June 8, the device, with 19 crew members on board, five Iranians and fourteen Venezuelans, tries to reach Uruguay, which refuses it access, while it is in flight, according to the Venezuelan ministry. of Foreign Affairs, which condemned a “irresponsible management”Thursday, June 16: “The crew of the plane was forced to return immediately to Ezeiza Airport, Argentina, without the prescribed fuel, putting the lives of the crew in serious danger. » The reason for this last-minute refusal? Information received from“foreign agencies”said the Uruguayan government.
It was from that day that the plane, which was carrying auto parts ordered by an Argentine factory, according to the press, was immobilized in Buenos Aires. Argentinian justice exercises “reasonable suspicion that the reason given for entering [sur le territoire] might not be the real one”. The passports of the five Iranians were confiscated. Justice was also seized by the Delegation of Argentine Jewish Associations (DAIA). The affairs surrounding Iran remain very sensitive in the country, while Tehran is accused of being linked to the attack against the headquarters of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association and the DAIA on July 18, 1994 (unclaimed, 85 dead ).
You have 49.33% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.