(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-04-02 10:27

BOGOTA - Colombia on Tuesday accepted Ecuador's explanation of why a helicopter from the neighboring country entered its airspace on Sunday, calling the incident closed after a day of increased diplomatic tensions.

Colombian armed forces commander Gen. Freddy Padilla told reporters the Ecuadorean helicopter pilot flew the craft into Colombian territory by mistake.

"We consider the incident resolved," Padilla said.

The incident briefly increased tensions between Bogota and Quito, which were inflamed by a March 1 Colombian military raid that killed a rebel commander inside Ecuadorean territory. The attack sparked a regional crisis and a brief troop buildup.

Leftist Colombian guerrillas, funded by the cocaine trade, often hide in neighboring countries.

Colombia said on Monday the Ecuadorean aircraft was intercepted by two Colombian Blackhawk helicopters and forced to land near the border after its crew failed to answer attempts to make radio contact.

The aircraft with two pilots and two passengers in Ecuadorean army uniforms was ordered to the nearby Colombian port of Tumaco, but it evaded its escort and slipped back into Ecuador, Colombia said.