C-130 DEPARTURE INCIDENT AT EL FASHER AIRPORT

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002756 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR AF/AS J FRAZER, AF/SPG L LANDIS, AND AF/RSA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MOPS PINR PINS EAIR US SU SUBJECT: C-130 DEPARTURE INCIDENT AT EL FASHER AIRPORT Ref: 18 Nov 06 Telcons - (Landis)- (Powers) ¶1. Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) supports a small detachment of officers serving as advisors to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) in El Fasher. On November 28, a CJTF-HOA HC-130, call sign PAT 332, landed in El Fashir, Darfur, at approximately 1450, on a scheduled mission to pick up personal gear belonging to members of the CJTF AMIS advisory detachment that had recently departed. ¶2. As Sudan's only airports of entry are Khartoum and Port Sudan, the HC-130 aircraft was scheduled to fly from Djibouti to Khartoum, proceed to El Fasher to pick up the cargo, and then refuel in Khartoum before the return leg to Djibouti. This flight was scheduled over a month ago, and all of the necessary overflight and landing clearances were requested (Diplomatic Note 663 of 26 October 2006) and received (CAA Clearance # CA/7/A7/M/2/2/2853). ¶3. The first two legs of the mission proceeded according to plan. A military representative met the aircraft in El Fasher and loaded the cargo. As the HC-130 was at the end of the runway preparing to depart, Sudanese air traffic controllers required it to return to the ramp area and shut down its engines. Evidently, military intelligence personnel were disturbed by the presence of a Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) Turret on the nose of the aircraft, believing that the crew was recording photographs of Sudanese facilities and activities. The officials did not believe the aircrew's assurance that there was no recording taking place, and wanted access to the aircraft, which the crew would not permit. ¶4. A standoff ensued while Embassy personnel tried to contact officials in Khartoum to resolve the situation. At El Fasher, Sudanese officials searched the outgoing cargo and then insisted that the crew depart the aircraft for the night because the airport was closed. The crew again refused, and the two sides were at an impasse. After some time passed, the military representative was taken to see the Colonel in charge of airport security, and the Colonel agreed to clear the aircraft for departure pending payment of a landing fee. The plane was permitted to continue on to Khartoum at approx. 2015 without payment of any additional landing fees. ¶5. The return leg to Khartoum, refueling, and departure for Djibouti all proceeded without further incident. HUME