Regular Air Madagascar flight between Antananarivo and Marseille/Paris requisitioned by Coup Government, re-routed to Dakar
A regular Air Madagascar (MD 058) flight between Antananarivo and Marseille and Paris was forced to reroute to Dakar, Senegal by the chief of Madagascar’s coup Government yesterday.
The passengers arrived around 6:00 pm at Ivato airport to check-in to Paris and Marseille. The flight was supposed to take-off at 10:30 pm but Andry Rajoelina arrived at the airport and forced the Air Madagascar ground operator of to reroute the fight to Dakar.
It took three hours for Dakar airport to give authorization. The flight took off about 1:00 AM (next day) in the morning and headed to Dakar with 200 passengers.
As the flight was originally expected to arrive in Marseille on Thursday morning at 10:00 AM, family and friends had to wait for more than 8 extra hours.
The flight finally arrived at 5:00 pm (Thursday).
According to Air Madagascar, some passengers canceled their trip at Ivato airport after they learned about the sudden re-routing plan.
Thirty members of the coup Government went to Dakar yesterday to meet President Wade of Senegal and to request his support for international recognition.
The self-proclaimed president and his staff have been abusing national companies and many private companies. Tourists who happily visited Madagascar and expected to bring great memories home, have experienced misgovernance and lack of respect.
Locals report that since March, many new four wheel drive vehicles without id have been seen circulating in Madagascar, driven by members of the coup government.
Antananarivo,
29th May 2009
