According to the Inhambane provincial director of transport, Manuela Rebelo, the flight plan filed by the helicopter pilot should have taken it from Vilankulo International Airport to the island of Bazaruto.
"There is no authorisation for any type of aircraft to land in Inhassoro town or district, except in the event of an emergency, and duly authorised by the civil aviation authorities", Rebelo told the Maputo daily "Noticias".
The helicopter pilot had so far given no motive for violating his flight plan.
On Friday, the newly appointed governor of Inhambane, Francisco Itai Meque, was visiting Inhassoro, and strongly criticised the regular illegal landings of light aircraft on the district's pristine beaches.
Friday's incident was the second in the space of a week.
According to Rebelo, on Monday a helicopter landed twice on an Inhassoro beach, causing panic among fishermen and tourists alike.
Following the governor's intervention the police seized the helicopter and its documentation. The release of the aircraft is dependent on its owners paying a fine of 100,000 new meticais (about 4,000 US dollars).
SOURCE: AIM
