"Four (Russian-made) Ilyushin-76 cargo planes, owned by this company, were hijacked by their foreign crew on June 19 en route to (the Kyrgyz capital) Bishkek from Tehran. They were taken to the city of Taraz in Kazakhstan", Atlas General Manager Ali-Reza Moqadasi told the official Iranian news agency IRNA.

The news about the both surprising and mysterious "hijacking" was first reported by the conservative daily "Resalat" and was confirmed by Mr. Behzad Mazaheri, the Head of the Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation who, typically to the attitude of Iranian officials when caught in unwelcome circumstances, had, nevertheless, denied the paper’s story.

"Those planes, en route to the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek from Tehran on June 19, were taken to the city of Taraz in Kazakhstan", Mr. Mazaheri said, citing unexplained "financial differences" as the cause of the incident.

It said the Iranian co-pilots, referred to as "observers", were told (by the crew) that on order from Atlas, they had been re-rooted to Taraz.

An informed source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Kazakh aviation officials refused to comment on the "illegal" re-routing of the planes and have also refused so far to say formally whether they would permit the planes to return to Iran.

"The co-operation of Kazakh government with hijackers has stunned us", Mr. Moqaddasi said for his part, adding that on the basis of "Chicago Convention" the planes should be returned to Iran, as no legal lawsuit has been filed against Atals".

"Kyrgyz authorities had refused to provide any explanation, nor have they allowed the planes go back to Tehran, informing the Iranians verbally that they can take them back to Iran", Resalat wrote, adding that the Iranian co-pilots of the planes had returned to Tehran one week after the "hijack".

Atlas’s General Manager Moqaddasi called on Kazakh officials to "issue visa for the crew to return the planes to Iran", IRNA said, adding further to the confusion that surrounds the bizarre incident.

The planes, under Iranian flag, are used in routes between Iran with Europe, Central Asia, Persian Gulf and Africa, according to the paper and confirmed by Atlas.

But Mr. Moqaddasi rebuked him, telling IRNA that three of the planes were chartered by Atals four years ago and one was owned jointly by the company and a foreign partner".

He also disclaimed the remarks that the term of the lease for the planes had expired and explained that currently they are authorised to fly in international airspace with Iranian flag installed."

"Since the time I was assured the planes were hijacked, I have contacted the Kazakh embassy several times, but to no avail", Mr. Moqaddasi said, confirming that the Iranian ambassador to Bishkek has been denied enough information on the "hijackers" who, he said, are Kazakhs, referring to the pilots obviously.

"Kazakh aviation officials refused to comment on the illegal landing of the planes. They have also refused so far to announce formally whether they would permit the planes to return to Iran, although they have verbally indicated willingness to have the Iranian company take them back", he said.