Arrival of Mamy Ravatomanga in Mauritius: AML Report Details a Tense Landing

The arrival of Mamy Ravatomanga in Mauritius: AML report details a tense landing.

On the night of October 11-12, 2025, the landing of a private jet at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (SSRIA) sparked significant controversy. At the center of the issue is Maminiaina "Mamy" Ravatomanga, identified as a financier linked to ousted Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina. The businessman is under investigation by the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) and is also of interest to Malagasy authorities, who are seeking his extradition for alleged money laundering and corruption offenses.

An internal report from Airports of Mauritius Ltd (AML), titled "Brief to CEO – Private Flight Landing at SSR International Airport," outlines the operational process of the landing, highlighting a coordination that adhered to protocols despite a period of administrative confusion. The document retraces the authorization and reception process for the flight operated by Trans Ocean Airways.

The aircraft, a Cessna Citation 560 XL registered as 5RHMR, took off from Ivato Airport (FMMI) in Madagascar, with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) of 19:30 UTC on October 11. The flight, presented as a tourist trip, was scheduled to return on November 11. The handling agent was Air Mauritius Ltd, and the flight clearance issued by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) bore the number DCA/703/2025. Onboard were two crew members – Ramanantsoa Mijarizaka Raollison (French nationality) and Hasiniavo Zuzie Raymond (Malagasy nationality) – along with five passengers, all from Madagascar.

Among them were: Rakotoniary Ep Ravatomanga Ramy Nivo Haingonirina, Mamy Ravatomanga, Ramy Mialy Tiana Ravatomanga, former Malagasy Prime Minister Louis Christian Ntsay, and Aina Fenosoa Ravatomanga.

The timeline of events details the precise procedure hour by hour. At 22:01 on October 10, JetPrime Operations, the local handling agent, initiates the process. At 23:25, Civil Aviation requests AML's opinion on the availability of slots and operational capacity. Three minutes later, AML confirms its "No objection" after checking the aprons and runway conditions. The final authorization from Civil Aviation is issued at 00:28 on October 11 and sent to Trans Ocean Airways, with copies to AML and JetPrime, under the subject "Approval for Private Flight – CAV AIRL 74 1-2025 400."

Administrative Confusion

The landing occurs at 00:45 on runway 14, with allocation to bay 47. No operational or safety anomalies are reported. Post-landing operations – logging, archiving the clearance, and ground coordination – are completed by 01:00. The crew heads to the Holiday Inn hotel, while the passengers proceed to Belle-Vue, with no further details provided.

However, the testimony of the Airfield Duty Coordinator (ADC) on duty that night reveals some administrative tension. At 23:10, air traffic control (ATC) alerts operations: the flight enters the Mauritian flight information region (FIR), with a revised ETA of 23:50. AML, initially lacking information, contacts ATC at 23:12, then the JetPrime supervisor at 23:19. The latter confirms that the clearance request is in progress, and the operator has been informed of the need to obtain a permit before departing from Tananarive. At 23:22, the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) suspends processing due to lack of approval from the Director of Civil Aviation.

AML's notice of no objection is received by the ADC's inbox at 23:25. At 23:26, the ADC validates the operation on the Civil Aviation portal. However, AIS insists on waiting for authorization from the Passport & Immigration Office (PIO). As a result, at 23:27, the flight is held near the approach runway. All parties – Duty Manager, ramp coordinators, and DTC – are informed at 23:28.

The final authorization arrives at 00:24, and the flight lands without incident at 00:45.

The report, archived under "Private Flights – Oct 2025," does not address judicial or diplomatic implications and differs from the document commissioned by Paul Bérenger, the interim Prime Minister, the previous week, which mentioned possible flaws in the process.