MINSK, 2 November (BelTA) – The Belavia crew did right to return to Zhulyany Airport, Vladimir Kostin, director of the aviation department at Belarus' Ministry of Transport and Communications, told reporters on 2 November, BelTA has learned.
“Given the situation, the crew acted properly. According to all international instruments, the aircraft should comply with the instructions of ATC. More so, the plane was in the airspace of Ukraine. If they had not complied and fighter jets had been scrambled, that could have led to a bigger conflict. But, of course, the psychological stress on the crew was very big,” Vladimir Kostin noted.
Vladimir Kostin explained that when the distance between two airports is short (500km is a very small distance for the aircraft of this class), the flight consists of two phases: ascend and descend. “The aircraft had just ascended and was preparing to descend to land in our airport when they got the order to return. You cannot stop the plane midway. It flies at high speed and is actually navigated by computers while the pilots are in control. They had to change the usual plan of action fast. This is not as easy as some could imagine. More so, the crew could not understand the reason,” Vladimir Kostin noted. “The crew did everything right, landed safely and ensured the safety of its passages, which was the most important thing,” he said.
Vladimir Kostin said that the Ukrainian side should apologize. “If they made a mistake, and most likely it was a mistake as the passenger they took off the flight flew off to Minsk the next flight, they should offer their apologies,” Vladimir Kostin said. “But so far we have seen no response, no comments from Ukraine,” he stated. “It is wrong to order the plane to return and to issue threats. They could resolve the issue with that particular passenger differently. I was a pilot for 30 years and I know many experienced pilots who flew on international flights. Nobody has ever faced a similar incident,” Vladimir Kostin emphasized. “They could have questioned the passenger before boarding. They could have contacted the relevant authorities of the county of destination. But the Ukrainian side chose the easiest path and ordered the plane to return while it was in its airspace,” said Vladimir Kostin.
BelTA reported earlier that on 21 October 2016, Belavia Boeing 737-800, carrying out flight V2-840 from Zhulyany (Kiev) to Minsk, was forced to return to the departure airport. There were 136 passengers and six crew members on board. The plane took off from Zhulyany Airport at 15.25. At 15.36, when the plane was a mere 50 kilometers from the Belarusian border, the aircraft's pilot received an order from a traffic controller from the Kiev District division of the Ukrainian state air traffic control enterprise UkSATSE, to immediately head back, with no further explanation. It was also stated that if the order was not fulfilled, fighter jets would be sent into the air. The commander of the aircraft fulfilled the order and started to descend at 15.37. At 15.55 the Belarusian plane landed at Zhulyany International Airport. Upon landing, one of the passengers, an Armenian citizen, was taken off the flight by Ukrainian law enforcement. After the refueling the plane took off and landed at Minsk National Airport at 17.33. The passenger who was taken off the flight was later released and left Kiev for Minsk at 19.00. The Belarusian air carrier said it would request compensation incurred as a result of the actions of the Ukrainian authorities. Belavia offered an apology to its passengers for the inconvenience.
On 22 October, Belarus' Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Charge d'affaires of Ukraine to Belarus Valery Dzhigun. The head of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission was given a note of protest to the Ukrainian authorities over the forced return of the aircraft that was performing a regular flight V2-840 on the route Kiev-Minsk on 21 October. The note emphasizes that the Belarusian side expects an official apology and seeks compensation for all financial costs and expenses incurred as a result of the actions of the Ukrainian authorities.
Belarusian Ambassador to Ukraine Igor Sokol was also instructed to submit a similar note of protest to Ukraine's Foreign Ministry.
