AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas has appeared on Sky News to discuss the hijack of the Ryanair 737 to Belarus and vaccine passports on Sky News.
According to Aviation Herald a Ryanair Sun Boeing 737-800, operating flight FR-4978 from Athens (Greece) to Vilnius (Lithuania) with 126 passengers and 6 crew, was intercepted by a MIG29 and in Belarus airspace, and forced to divert to Minsk (Belarus).
Five passengers did not continue on the flight. They were three Russian nationals, Roman Protasevich a Belarus citizen, and his fiancee.
Mr. Protasevich is an activist.
Aviation Herald reports that the president of the European Commission said: “It is utterly unacceptable to force Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius to land in Minsk. ALL passengers must be able to continue their travel to Vilnius immediately and their safety ensured. Any violation of international air transport rules must bear consequences.” Later she added: “The outrageous and illegal behavior of the regime in Belarus will have consequences. Those responsible for the Ryanair hijacking must be sanctioned. Journalist Roman Protasevich must be released immediately.”
