Behind the name of MK A330neo
The second A330neo of Air Mauritius, named “Chagos Archipelago” left the Airbus Delivery Centre Toulouse, flew to the Paris Airshow. After the night stop at Le Bourget, it landed in Mauritius Friday 21 June 2019 in the morning.
Mauritius has always claimed that the Chagos Archipelago was part of the Mauritian territory. On 25 February 2019, the United Nations International Court of Justice has ruled that Britain should hand back the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. The decolonisation of Mauritius was not lawfully completed when the country obtained independence in 1968 due to the separation of the Chagos Archipelago.
However this verdict is an advisory opinion and not legally binding. The Chagossians about 1,500 inhabitants, were expelled from the islands by the British between 1967 and 1973. Diego Garcia was then leased to the United States for a military base.
The Chagossian people and the leader of the Chagos Refugee Group, Olivier Bancoult hope they will be able to return home one day.
For its first commercial flight the Air Mauritius A330neo ” Chagos Archipelago” MK042 operated to Heathrow Airport (LHR) on 21 June 2019. A way to remind the British and the world that the islands do belong to Mauritius!
Arrival Ceremony A330neo
Master of Ceremony
Approach to SSR Intl Airport
Low pass over runway 14
Low pass over runway 14
Nose wheel about to touch runway
Positive touch down and reverse thrust activated
Reverse thrust extended
Taxiing to parking stand
Water salute
MK A330neo
Rolls-Royce Trent 7000
Sir Anerood Jugnauth and Mr Somas Appavou
CEO Air Mauritius and Leader Chagos Refugee Group
Technical Crew
Chagossian sega dancers
Chagossian sega dancers
Chagossian musician
Chagossian sega singer
Business class cabin
Business class screen
Economy class cabin
Economy class screen
Cockpit 3B-NBV, Selcal Code EJ-BF
Engine/Warning Display (E/WD) and System Display (SD)
Overhead panel, light test on
Capt Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Navigation Display (ND)
Capt steering hand wheel and side stick
Crew rest for Technical Crew
AeSM Team
