A chartered flight airlifting Gambian hajj  pilgrims to Mecca was forced to return to Banjul amid report Mali refused to allow it to use its airspace. 

The Flynas flight was carrying the second batch of pilgrims.

However, officials of the Gambia International Airline, blamed Flynas for the incident, adding that it did not obtain the flight permission to use Mali’s airspace, “thus Mali refused to allow the pilot to use its airspace”.

“It actually departed here on time. They flew up to Mali and Mali did not allow the pilot to use their space because Flynas did not obtain the flight permission. 

“It is exclusively the responsibility of Flynas to obtain overflight permission. Right now, we are at the airport. We’ve disembarked them [the passengers]. So, few, not very many decided to go home,” a GIA official said. 

“We are staying here until we are able to get the flight permission either from Mali or any other country. 

“Then we will transport them back to the airport to board the flight and head to Madina.

“This is the error of the carrier that is Flynas, it is not a Gambian problem. But the first flight has already arrived,” GIA added.

Meanwhile, the airline said they are working with the authorities to resolve the matter.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba