The Jet Prime / Trans Ocean Airways Connection: An In-Depth Analysis
The Jet Prime / Trans Ocean Airways Connection: An In-Depth Analysis
Published by Le Dimanche Hebdo
Date: Sunday, 02/11/2025 - 16:30
An image shows a private jet parked on the tarmac, with a clear blue sky above and airport facilities in the background.
An investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the Cessna Citation 560XL private jet, which was transporting Mamy Ravatomanga, former Malagasy Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, and other passengers. The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) at the airport, under the Central Criminal Investigation Department (CCID), is leading the inquiry.
Investigators are particularly focused on a request made by Jet Prime Ltd, based in Plaisance, for the landing of the private jet belonging to Trans Ocean Airways (TOA), a subsidiary of Mamy Ravatomanga's Sodiat group, headquartered in Madagascar.
Emails exchanged in the night of October 11 to 12 have already been requisitioned by investigators. The Information Technology Unit will analyze these emails to clarify the various steps that preceded the landing of the aircraft, which was carrying Maminiaina Mamy Ravatomanga, Louis Christian Ntsay, Aina Fenosoa Ravatomanga, Ramy Nivo Haingonirina Rakotoniary (Mamy Ravatomanga's wife), and Ramy Mialy Tiana Ravatomanga. The crew comprised Mija Ramantsoa and Zuzie Hasiniavo Raymond.
Preliminary analyses of the exchanges between Jet Prime and Trans Ocean Airways show that a first landing request for Mauritius was made at 10:00 PM by the TOA pilot to the Mauritian Civil Aviation department. However, the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) did not grant approval for the flight.
At 10:32 PM, Jet Prime submitted a second landing request on behalf of TOA for a departure scheduled at 11:30 PM. But the airline faced a refusal, as such requests must be made seven days in advance according to current regulations.
However, at 11:12 PM, Jet Prime renewed its request for the private jet to land at 11:30 PM. Meanwhile, the aircraft had already taken off from Ivato airport in Antananarivo at 10:19 PM. Due to the lack of all necessary permits, the Mauritius Air Traffic Control (ATC) ordered the pilot at 11:31 PM not to enter Mauritian airspace.
According to the Civil Aviation Regulations, any request for authorization from an operator wishing to land in Mauritius, when passengers require visas, must be submitted three days in advance. In flight, the pilot cited that the aircraft had only enough fuel for 3 hours and 20 minutes.
At Plaisance, arrangements were initiated, and at 12:13 AM, the Passport and Immigration Office (PIO) confirmed that the passengers and crew had "clean records." The Department of External Communication of the Prime Minister's Office was informed at 12:14 AM. Finally, at 12:20 AM, the Acting Director of Civil Aviation authorized the landing of the aircraft, which touched down at Plaisance at 12:44 AM.
Upon arrival at Plaisance, the travelers were welcomed by a welcoming team composed of Gilbert Noel, a resigning member of the board of Airport Holdings Ltd and Jet Prime Ltd, along with Andry Patrick Rabetokotany, Louis Raymond Daryl Rivet, and Lovanirina Rabetokotany Ravatomanga.
When questioned by the CID at the airport, the Acting Director of Civil Aviation maintained that the private jet had received landing authorization after clearance from the Passport and Immigration Office (PIO) and the civil aviation department of Airports of Mauritius Ltd (AML), considering the low fuel level reported by the pilot. This decision, he emphasized, complies with the protocols established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The Cessna Citation 560XL, immobilized on the tarmac of Plaisance airport, has been under the surveillance of the Special Mobile Force (SMF) since Wednesday, October 29.