President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has called for an explanation regarding why Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) pilots have been barred from operating Dornier aircraft, according to a statement from the President's Office. The issue comes amidst ongoing legal proceedings between the Defense Ministry and the Information Commissioner's Office.
According to sources, the Ministry of Defense had initially appealed the Information Commissioner’s directive to the High Court but has since withdrawn the case. The directive came after the Commissioner asked for an explanation as to why MNDF pilots, trained to fly the Indian-supplied civilian-powered Dornier aircraft, were not being allowed to do so.
In 2021, the government trained two MNDF officers, First Lieutenant Ibrahim Shareef and Lieutenant Ahmed Ali, to fly Dornier aircraft. Since then, five additional pilots have received military aviation training, and four have successfully completed the Dornier conversion course, according to the MNDF.
On August 24, the Information Commissioner formally requested that the Ministry of Defense disclose why the trained MNDF pilots were barred from operating the Dornier aircraft. In response, the Defense Ministry filed a case in the High Court last week, citing Article 29 of the Access to Information Act, which allows withholding information that could endanger national security.
However, the Ministry of Defense has since withdrawn its appeal, and the government has yet to provide an official response to the Information Commissioner’s request for transparency.
According to sources, the Ministry of Defense had initially appealed the Information Commissioner’s directive to the High Court but has since withdrawn the case. The directive came after the Commissioner asked for an explanation as to why MNDF pilots, trained to fly the Indian-supplied civilian-powered Dornier aircraft, were not being allowed to do so.
In 2021, the government trained two MNDF officers, First Lieutenant Ibrahim Shareef and Lieutenant Ahmed Ali, to fly Dornier aircraft. Since then, five additional pilots have received military aviation training, and four have successfully completed the Dornier conversion course, according to the MNDF.
On August 24, the Information Commissioner formally requested that the Ministry of Defense disclose why the trained MNDF pilots were barred from operating the Dornier aircraft. In response, the Defense Ministry filed a case in the High Court last week, citing Article 29 of the Access to Information Act, which allows withholding information that could endanger national security.
However, the Ministry of Defense has since withdrawn its appeal, and the government has yet to provide an official response to the Information Commissioner’s request for transparency.
