MOGADISHU– Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority on Wednesday confirmed that it turned back an unscheduled, Ethiopian Arline flight en route to Hargeisa, Somaliland .

The aviation in s statement said that the aircraft had no permission to land or use the Somalia’s airspace.

The Dash–Q400, flight number ET8372 was reportedly carrying Ethiopian high profile government delegation including the Deputy Prime Minister.

BREAKING: #Somali Aviation Authority turns back an #Ethiopian flight bound for Hargeisa, #Somaliland.

The flight carrying a high delegation was forced to return to #AddisAbaba.

This comes amid heightened diplomatic tension between Somalia and #Ethiopia over Ethiopia's port deal… pic.twitter.com/rgF6FNbcqb

— Frontier Online (@FrontierOnlineK) January 17, 2024

The statement from the authority added that said that it will not allow unlicensed aircrafts enter the country’s airspace.

Reports emerged earlier that an Ethiopian plane bound for Hargeisa was turned away following negotiations between the Somali civil aviation and their Ethiopian counterpart after it came out that the flight had no permission to use Somalia’s air space .

However, Hargeisa has confirmed that another passenger airplane landed at Egal airport.

This development comes amid heightened diplomatic relations between Somalia and Ethiopia over the signing of agreement between Ethiopia’s Prime minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi on the access of Red sea by Ethiopia.

Somalia Federal Government has strongly rejected the deal terming it unlawful and unenforceable.