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| Ryanair CEO calls forced landing of plane in Minsk ‘state-sponsored hijacking' but airline continues to fly in Belarusian airspace | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The actions of the Belarusian authorities to force Ryanair Flight 4978 to land at Minsk Airport on Sunday were an act of state-sponsored “hijacking” and “piracy,” according to the chief executive of the Irish low-cost airline. | The actions of the Belarusian authorities to force Ryanair Flight 4978 to land at Minsk Airport on Sunday were an act of state-sponsored “hijacking” and “piracy,” according to the chief executive of the Irish low-cost airline. |
| Speaking to Dublin’s Newstalk radio on Monday, Michael O’Leary took aim at officials in Minsk, and even suggested that KGB agents from Belarus were onboard the aircraft. | Speaking to Dublin’s Newstalk radio on Monday, Michael O’Leary took aim at officials in Minsk, and even suggested that KGB agents from Belarus were onboard the aircraft. |
| On Sunday, a flight from Greece to Lithuania was forced to land due to a supposed bomb threat. The plane was escorted to Minsk airport by a Belarusian MiG-29 fighter jet. Once it landed, police came onto the aircraft and arrested passenger Roman Protasevich, the former editor-in-chief of opposition Telegram channel Nexta. He currently an employee of Belamova, an outlet founded by Igor Losik, a consultant for US state-run media RFE/RL. Both are on Belarus’ list of extremist organizations. | On Sunday, a flight from Greece to Lithuania was forced to land due to a supposed bomb threat. The plane was escorted to Minsk airport by a Belarusian MiG-29 fighter jet. Once it landed, police came onto the aircraft and arrested passenger Roman Protasevich, the former editor-in-chief of opposition Telegram channel Nexta. He currently an employee of Belamova, an outlet founded by Igor Losik, a consultant for US state-run media RFE/RL. Both are on Belarus’ list of extremist organizations. |
| “This was a case of state-sponsored hijacking ... state-sponsored piracy,” O’Leary said. “It appears the intent of the authorities was to remove a journalist and his traveling companion ... we believe there were some KGB agents offloaded at the airport as well.” | “This was a case of state-sponsored hijacking ... state-sponsored piracy,” O’Leary said. “It appears the intent of the authorities was to remove a journalist and his traveling companion ... we believe there were some KGB agents offloaded at the airport as well.” |
| Later on Monday, an official statement from the Ryanair Press Office condemned the forced grounding, and noted that the airline would fully cooperate with the EU and NATO. | Later on Monday, an official statement from the Ryanair Press Office condemned the forced grounding, and noted that the airline would fully cooperate with the EU and NATO. |
| “Ryanair condemns the unlawful actions of Belarusian authorities who diverted Ryanair’s flight FR4978 to Minsk yesterday, which was an act of aviation piracy,” it said. | “Ryanair condemns the unlawful actions of Belarusian authorities who diverted Ryanair’s flight FR4978 to Minsk yesterday, which was an act of aviation piracy,” it said. |
| However, despite decisions by other airlines like Latvia’s airBaltic to stop flying over the country, Ryanair is still using Belarus’ airspace. | However, despite decisions by other airlines like Latvia’s airBaltic to stop flying over the country, Ryanair is still using Belarus’ airspace. |
| In Minsk, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign affairs disagreed with the assessment that the grounding was illegal. | In Minsk, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign affairs disagreed with the assessment that the grounding was illegal. |
| “There is no doubt that the actions of our competent authorities were also in full compliance with the established international rules,” ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz said. “There is a deliberate politicization, unfounded accusations, and sticking labels. However, there is no apparent desire to objectively investigate.” | “There is no doubt that the actions of our competent authorities were also in full compliance with the established international rules,” ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz said. “There is a deliberate politicization, unfounded accusations, and sticking labels. However, there is no apparent desire to objectively investigate.” |
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