$1m lost as impounded AAA plane returns from Moscow

KABUL (Pajhwok): An Ariana Afghan Airlines (AAA) impounded by the Russian government in Moscow for about three months for failing to pay taxes on time has returned to Kabul after being released by the court.

However, the company is seeking $1 million in damages for the suspension.

The AAA head said on Saturday at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul Moscow Airport officials had claimed that the Boeing 737-400 had flown before submitting documents to customs authorities.

A claim subsequently referred to a Moscow court was rejected and the case decided in favour of AAA, Salim Rahimi told journalists

He added the plane was stopped there for about three months and 11 days. “During the period, we recorded all the expenses we incurred. For this reason, the AAA lost about $1 million.”

Rahimi said the company would file a case in Moscow this week, seeking compensation for the impoundment of the plane.

sa/mud