Created Tuesday, Dec 27th 2022 12:21Z, last updated Tuesday, Dec 27th 2022 12:21Z
A Mahan Air Airbus A340-600, registration EP-MMQ performing flight
W5-63 from Teheran Imam Khomeini (Iran) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates), was enroute at FL370 about 50nm northwest of Kish Island (Iran) when the crew descended the aircraft to FL220 and subsequently diverted to Kish Island for a safe landing.
The reason for the diversion remains unclear. The aircraft remained on the ground in Kish for about 90 minutes, the continued the flight to Dubai, however, without two passengers who remained on Kish Island. The aircraft reached Dubai with a delay of about 2 hours.
While initially there were claims that the former Iranian record footballer Ali Daei had been on board and was arrested, Daei reported he was not on board, however, his wife and his daughter were on board and were taken for interviews, but were not arrested. Daei, who had scored 109 goals for the Iranian team during his active career, had been backing anti-government protests by Iran's people after the death of a woman in police custody. Daei said, his wife and his daughter were legally leaving Teheran for a planned visit to Dubai, they would have returned home the following week.
Iran's semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported Daei's wife had been given a travel ban earlier in the month for supporting anti-government protests, she would be trying to illegally bypass the ban with her final destination being the USA.
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