SA transport officials detail flight plan for aircraft carrying 49 Afrikaners relocating to US

JOHANNESBURG - South African transport officials have detailed the flight plan for an aircraft carrying 49 Afrikaners relocating to the United States (US) as part of Washington’s refugee programme.

The private charter flight finally took off late Sunday night after a three-hour delay that kept Texas-based Omni Airways on the tarmac longer than expected.

The cause of the delay is unknown at this stage.

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This is the first group of Afrikaners who have been admitted to the US under refugee status after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing them to resettle amid a disinformation campaign about racial laws in South Africa.

The Department of Transport said there is limited leeway to allow for delays because a chartered flight has to follow a strict flight plan.

Department spokesperson Collen Msibi said the application for the use of a chartered plane is processed by the International Air Services Council.

He said these plans are made to ensure that there are no clashes in the use of airspace.

Despite the delay, the aircraft is believed to have kept to its planned approved route.

“It goes to Dakar, where they have to refuel. I think they are going to spend about an hour refuelling and then from Dakar then they head to Washington, Dallas airport in Washington DC, and thereafter, the flight proceeds to Texas.”

Msibi said the department has not received any other application for a similar process yet.