Brazen: How Iran stole two Airbus A340s in plain daylight

In a move that has raised eyebrows in international aviation circles, two Airbus A340 aircraft that departed from Lithuania with scheduled destinations in Southeast Asia have mysteriously landed in Iran. This incident, reported by Lithuania's public broadcaster, has sparked concerns about potential sanctions evasion and the complexities of monitoring international air traffic.

As reported by JPost, the planes, leased by Gambian company Macka Invest, were originally slated to fly to Sri Lanka and the Philippines in February. However, their journey took an unexpected turn when their transponders—devices crucial for identification on air traffic control radars—were switched off upon entering Iranian airspace. Aviation data site ch-aviation reported that one plane touched down at Tehran's Mehrabad airport, while the other landed at Konarak airport in Chabahar.

This isn't an isolated incident. In December 2022, a similar situation unfolded when four commercial Airbus A340 planes, having taken off from Johannesburg en route to Uzbekistan, reportedly landed in Iran after their transponders were deactivated.

The latest occurrence has drawn attention to the challenges of enforcing international sanctions. According to vz.lt, a Lithuanian business news website, the Iranian aviation company Mahan Air now possesses these two aircraft, potentially circumventing American sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program.

Aurelija Kuezada, director of Šiauliai Airport in Lithuania, revealed that a third plane was prevented from taking off due to suspicions it might also end up in Iran. "Nothing could have prevented that," Kuezada stated, explaining the decision to ground the aircraft.

These incidents highlight the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between international regulators and those seeking to bypass sanctions. They also underscore the difficulties in maintaining transparency in global air traffic, especially when dealing with nations under strict international restrictions. Additionally, they raises questions about the effectiveness of current aviation monitoring systems and the measures needed to ensure compliance with international sanctions in an increasingly interconnected world.