Government confirms Guatemala’s airspace incursion and calls for an OAS investigation

The government has released new details tonight surrounding the September 24 incursion into Belize’s airspace by a Guatemalan military aircraft. Following an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council yesterday, Cabinet says primary and secondary radar data confirmed that the aircraft entered Belize without authorization during a regional counternarcotics operation that did not include Belize.  Prime Minister John Briceño chaired the meeting, which reviewed the movements of the Guatemalan Armed Forces reconnaissance aircraft, identified by tail number FAG706. According to the release, it entered Belizean airspace from the east at seven twenty-nine that evening, flying at four thousand feet.  Cabinet says the aircraft switched off its transponder at eight-oh-seven to evade detection by secondary radar. However, Belize’s primary radar picked it up three minutes later. The aircraft then travelled southwest, passed near Punta Ycacos in Toledo and left Belizean airspace at approximately eight-forty. It remained inside Belize for about one hour and ten minutes.  The National Security Council has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to formally request an investigation by the Organisation of American States. That follows an earlier request for the OAS to seek clarification from Guatemala. Belize says it is prepared to provide all available data and cooperate fully with the investigation.  Meanwhile, Guatemala has denied that the flight occurred. President Bernardo Arévalo maintained that position while indicating that Guatemala was awaiting verification through the established mechanism.  The latest disclosure follows reports questioning whether the aircraft’s movements near Lighthouse Reef were connected to suspected drug activity. Cabinet has considered that factor, and that of a regional counternarcotics operation, but strongly rejects the unauthorized entry, and coins it as a violation of Belize’s sovereignty. Belize reiterates its call on Guatemala to respect the longstanding confidence-building measures between the two countries.