This archive report was first published on 24 August 2019.
On Friday, August 23, 2019, the Tanzanian government confirmed that South African authorities had impounded a jet belonging to Air Tanzania, a state-owned carrier.
The plane was forced to cancel its flight from Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam following an order issued by the Gauteng High Court, according to Leonard Chamuriho, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications.
No reason was provided for the seizure, but Mr. Chamuriho stated that the government had been informed by its ambassador in South Africa about the development.
"We are working to ensure that the plane is released immediately," said Mr. Chamuriho.
As a result of the impoundment, Air Tanzania's managing director, Ladislaus Matindi, made arrangements for the affected passengers to board other airlines.
Although the carrier adjusted its flight schedule on Saturday, it did not link the move to the seizure of its aircraft.
This is not the first time that Air Tanzania has run into trouble in South Africa. Last month, a Tanzanian delegation was turned away at OR Tambo airport on its inaugural flight to Johannesburg due to "miscommunication" between the airport and immigration officials.
