MALABO, 30 July 2021, (TON):  Six French soldiers were arrested in Bata airport, the economic capital of Equatorial Guinea , after their helicopter was forced sat down for refueling.

Colonel Pascal Ianni, spokesman for the French army headquarters, said “they sat down on We-dnesday at 14.15, because they ran out of fuel. Then a series of bureaucratic delays began. We are at the stage of negotiations (with the authorities – ed.), We encountered an incident that is already familiar to us. They are holding the helicopter and the crew.”  

He added that the crew is still awaiting take-off clearance.In turn, the State Television and Radio of Equatorial Guinea (TVGE) said that the helicopter without permission was in the airspace of the country and landed, thereby violating the border.

A French military source, meanwhile, told the agency that the military “had all the necessary permits,” but that “coordination problems with the airport” and the dispatcher often arise.

A French military spokesman denied that the case could be related to “espionage” by France.

According to the agency’s data, an unarmed Fennec helicopter was detained, it provided a logistic connection between the Cameroonian city of Douala and the capital of Gabon, Libreville, where the French military base is located.