“It is clear to us that the Belarusian authorities are very unreliable in the management of the airspace,” said Rutte. “Saying that there is a bomb on board to land a plane is literally dangerous and goes beyond all limits.” KLM previously announced that it did not see any safety risks in flying over Belarus, but after Rutte’s appeal, the airline decided to change tack.
The Netherlands also wants a European flight ban for the Belarusian airline Belavia and other Belarusian aircraft. “But that’s not something that can be arranged tonight.”
On Sunday, Belarus forced an overhead Ryanair passenger plane to land in Minsk because a bomb was said to be on board. There, the police took 26-year-old Roman Pratasevich, a critical journalist and prominent member of the Belarusian opposition, on board. His Russian girlfriend was also arrested. Pratasevich is concerned that he may face the death penalty.
Several airlines have announced that they will avoid Belarusian airspace. For example, the German Lufthansa, the Latvian airline AirBaltic and the large Eastern European low-cost carrier Wizz Air are now flying. The Cypriot Avia Solutions Group, which largely operates from Lithuania, no longer allows its airlines to fly over the country.
The leaders of the Baltic states – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – want Belarus’ airspace to be declared unsafe for all EU countries. The Minister of Transport of Lithuania has already announced that all flights to and from Lithuania will no longer be allowed to fly over the neighboring country from Tuesday. Poland is also calling for all flights between the EU and Belarus to cease. The US is currently investigating whether Belarusian airspace is still safe for US aircraft.
Apparently out of annoyance at the Latvian reaction, Belarus decided to expel the entire Latvian diplomatic staff from the country. Latvia immediately retaliated by throwing out the Belarusian ambassador and the other members of the embassy.
The European Union must stop air traffic with Belarus. The landing rights of Belarusian airlines at European airports should be withdrawn and their planes are also not welcome in European airspace. European airlines are called upon to stop flying over Belarus.
This is stated in the draft conclusions of the meeting of the 27 heads of government of the European Union, which will be together in Brussels on Monday evening. The final outcome of the European summit is not yet known.
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Great Britain has ordered all British aircraft to avoid the airspace of Belarus. Transport Minister Grant Shapps also decided to revoke the landing judge for the Belarusian airline Belavia as a punishment. Belavia operated a daily flight from London Gatwick via Paris to Minsk.
Criticism of Ryanair
Ryanair, the airline whose plane was directed by a Belarusian jet fighter to Minsk, apologized in a statement to ‘all affected passengers’ for the ‘regrettable delay’. Ryanair’s statement was widely criticized on social media, including from politicians and journalists, because it contained nothing about the arrest of a passenger.
Our FR4978 flight has landed safely in Vilnius at 19:25hrs UK time (21:25hrs local time). Here is Ryanair’s statement on today’s diversion to Minsk Airport ???? pic.twitter.com/i0xhdpwTAF
— Ryanair Press Office (@RyanairPress) 23 May 2021
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Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has now spoken in stronger terms on Irish radio. He spoke of a ‘state-sponsored hijacking’ and said Ryanair believes there were some Belarusian secret agents on board. These would be the four or five passengers who got off the plane in Minsk itself.
‘Disgusting’
Western countries have strongly condemned the forced landing and are demanding the release of Roman Protasevich. For example, the US ambassador to Belarus called the action “disgusting.” The leaders of Lithuania and Poland even spoke of a ‘terrorist act’.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, wrote on Twitter that the ‘disgraceful and illegal amount of the regime in Belarus’ would have consequences. What those consequences will be must be made clear tonight. The European countries plan to jointly announce measures at a previously planned EU summit.
The outrageous and illegal behaviour of the regime in Belarus will have consequences.
Those responsible for the #Ryanair hijacking must be sanctioned.
Journalist Roman Protasevich must be released immediately.
EUCO will discuss tomorrow action to take.
– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) 23 May 2021
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A spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Western countries of hypocrisy. She was referring to the forced landing of a plane with then Bolivian President Evo Morales on board. That happened eight years ago in Austria.
The plane had to land here after France and Portugal did not allow the plane, which was en route from Russia to Bolivia, into their airspace. Whistleblower Edward Snowden, who had fled the US a month earlier, is said to be on board. This turned out not to be the case. France and Spain apologized.
Politicians from foreign committees from the US, the UK and various European countries have now called for an investigation by the ICAO, the aviation organization of the United Nations. He has announced that Belarus may have violated the Chicago aviation convention. The Belarusian authorities claim to have complied with international rules.
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