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RI says Indian missile test forced one of its passenger jets to turn back

NU Online  ·  Ahad, 15 April 2007 | 11:12 WIB

Jakarta, NU Online
An Indonesian passenger jet was forced to turned around over Indian airspace after a nuclear-capable ballistic missile streaked across the sky, the foreign ministry said Friday, demanding an explanation.

"We will summon India's diplomat here soon to seek official clarification," said Kristiarto Legowo, the ministry's spokesman, following Thursday's incident. "We have to make sure this does not happen in the future."<>

The Garuda Indonesia plane was carrying nearly 400 Muslim pilgrims from its capital, Jakarta, to Saudi Arabia, when pilots saw the fast-moving streak across the sky, the airline's director, Ari Sapari, told The Associated Press.

There had been no advance warning about the test launch, he said, adding that the Boeing 747 immediately returned to Jakarta and then took off again for Jeddah and Riyadh four hours later.

India announced Thursday it had successfully test fired a new missile that is capable of carrying nuclear warheads across much of Asia and the Middle East. (ap/dar)