says a Guatemalan military aircraft that entered Belizean airspace was participating in a regional counternarcotics operation.){kind=link}
The Government of Belize (GOB) says a Guatemalan military aircraft that entered Belizean airspace without authorization on September 24th was participating in a regional counternarcotics operation that did not include Belize. According to the government, the reconnaissance aircraft spent more than an hour in Belizean airspace before returning to Guatemala.
Guatemala continues to deny that the flight occurred, leaving conflicting accounts between the two neighboring countries.
Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of National Security, Francis Usher, said several countries participated in the operation, but only Guatemala violated Belize’s airspace. He emphasized that participation in a regional mission did not permit Guatemala to enter Belize. “I know these missions are dynamic, but that is not an excuse to not inform us or ask our permission or follow the proper protocols,” Usher said. “There are several lines of communication available in these types of operations, and those were completely ignored in this particular operation.”
Usher did not identify the other participating countries or provide further details about the operation.
The government released additional information about the incident following an October 5th meeting of the National Security Council in Belmopan. Prime Minister Honorable John Briceño chaired the meeting, which reviewed the movements of the Guatemalan aircraft, identified by tail number FAG706.
According to the government’s report, primary and secondary radar data confirmed that the aircraft entered Belizean airspace without authorization. It approached from the east at 7:29PM, flying at an altitude of 4,000 feet.
The government said the aircraft switched off its transponder at 8:07PM, describing the action as an attempt to evade secondary radar detection. However, Belize’s primary radar detected it three minutes later as it circled Lighthouse Reef and near Caye Caulker. The aircraft then traveled southwest, passed near Punta Ycacos in Toledo, and exited Belizean airspace at approximately 8:40PM.
The National Security Council directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to formally request an investigation by the Organization of American States (OAS). Belize said it was prepared to provide all available data and cooperate fully with the investigation.
Meanwhile, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo has maintained his government’s denial while indicating that Guatemala was awaiting verification through the established mechanism.
No explanation has been provided for Belize’s exclusion from the regional operation. Belize has called on Guatemala to respect the spirit of the longstanding bilateral confidence-building measures between the two countries.
Belize is seeking an OAS investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported incursion.