Western military charter plane lands in Iran

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An aircraft chartered by coalition forces in Afghanistan, en route from Bagram air base to Dubai, landed Friday in Bandar Abbas, Iran, after Iranian officials questioned its flight plan, U.S. officials said.

The plane had been contacted by Iranian air traffic controllers, who instructed it to return to Afghanistan and file the correct plan. When the pilots informed the Iranians they did not have enough fuel to return to Bagram, they were asked to land.

One official said Iranian fighter jets had escorted the plane, which was carrying approximately 100 Americans and possibly a pair of Canadians, to the ground. Other officials denied that, and said the plane landed on its own. It was expected to resume its flight quickly.

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