Reuters
JAKARTA, Indonesia - The search continues for the 234 people
killed when an Indonesian jetliner crashed. Workers, disrupted by
thick smoke from hundreds of forest fires, have found the remains
of 200 victims. They have yet to find the flight recorders, al-
though minutes before the crash the pilot reported low visibility
because of the haze.
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Canadian plane forced to land at Bombay airport
BOMBAY - September 27, 1997 1:57 p.m. EDT - Indian air force jet
fighter planes intercepted an Air Canada aircraft over a sensitive
area near the Pakistani border on Saturday and forced it to land at
Bombay's domestic airport, defence officials and police said.
The Challenger's eight passengers and three crew members were
detained for questioning, a defence official said.
"It was not following its flight plan and it was intercepted by
Indian air force fighters," the defence official said.
Five of those aboard were Canadians and six were Chinese. The
Challenger had taken off from Dubai and was to touch down in Bombay
before flying on to New Delhi.
Police officials said the aircraft was flying over the western
state of Gujarat when it was intercepted and diverted to Bombay's
Santacruz airport. Gujarat borders Pakistan and its coastline is
considered sensitive.
Air Canada was not immediately available for comment.
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Another Version of same story
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Canada says investigating India plane reports
28 September 1997 - 08:46 JST, Tokyo time (23:46 GMT)
TORONTO (Reuter) - Canadian officials said Saturday that they
were investigating reports that a Canadian aircraft was intercepted
by the Indian air force over a sensitive area near the Indian-Paki-
stani border and forced to land at Bombay's domestic airport.
"The department is aware of news wire reports of a Canadian-
registered aircraft that was detained by Indian authorities in
Bombay," Canada's Foreign Affairs department said in a statement
Saturday.
The statement said the Canadian consulate in Bombay was inves-
tigating the matter and the department had no further comment.
An Indian defense official said earlier Saturday the Challenger
aircraft was not following its flight plan and was intercepted by
Indian air force jet fighters.
The aircraft's eight passengers and three crew members were
detained for questioning, the defense official said. Five of those
aboard were Canadians and six were Chinese.
An official with Air Canada denied earlier reports that the
detained aircraft belonged to the airline company.
"This is definitely not an Air Canada aircraft," airline spokes-
man John Reber said Saturday, adding the airline had no information
on the aircraft's owner.
The Challenger had taken off from Dubai and was to touch down
in Bombay before flying on to New Delhi.
Indian police officials said the aircraft was flying over the
western state of Gujarat when it was intercepted and diverted to
Bombay's Santacruz airport. Gujarat borders Pakistan and its coast-
line is considered sensitive.
In December 1995 the authorities forced a Russian aircraft to
land at Bombay on suspicion that it had been used to air drop arms
into eastern India.
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Taiwan to give 12 jets to Paraguay
Donation of aging jets seen as nod for diplomatic recognition
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TAIPEI, Taiwan _ Taipei said on Friday it would give 12 aging
F-5E fighter jets to Paraguay, one of a handful of countries that
recognize Taiwan rather than the Chinese communist government in
Beijing.
VICE PREMIER JOHN CHANG announced the gift one week after
President Lee Teng-hui irked China with a high-profile visit to
Paraguay and three other Latin American allies.
"Under the condition that it does not affect our air force
combat power, we have decided to donate 12 twin and single-seat
F-5Es to Paraguay," Chang told lawmakers.
The gift warplanes, acquired decades ago from the United States,
are becoming available as they are replaced by advanced fighters
bought from the United States and France.
Chang said he expected no U.S. opposition to the transfer.
Taiwan is updating its air force with 150 U.S.-made F-16 figh-
ters, 60 French Mirage 2000-5s and 130 locally developed fighters
modeled on the U.S. F-20 Tigershark.
The U.S. and French plane orders in 1992 outraged China, which
has warned other countries against forging ties with Taiwan's exiled
Republic of China or selling arms to the island, which Beijing
regards as a renegade province.
Since a 1949 civil war split them, Beijing has sought to bring
Nationalist-ruled Taiwan under communist control.
Paraguay is one of only 30 countries that recognize Taiwan
rather than Beijing.
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* Origin: Volunteer BBS (423) 694-0791 V34+/VFC (1:218/1001.1)
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