Snowden watch: Today’s Moscow-Havana flight taking a very odd detour that avoids the U.S.

[dkf]

Thursday’s unusual flight path for Aeroflot Flight 150 from Moscow to Havana. (FlightAware)

At 2:13 p.m. Moscow time on Thursday, or 6:13 a.m. EST, the four-times-a-week Aeroflot flight from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport to Havana, Cuba, took off as usual.

But then something strange happened: The plane did not follow its normal route, which takes it northwest over Scandinavia, then across Iceland and Greenland before turning south over Canada and the continental United States. Although this might look like a curve on flat maps, it’s actually the shortest route, following the curve of the Earth, and also the safest as it keeps the plane near land in case of an emergency.

Instead of taking the usual route, Flight 150 headed west over Central Europe, crossing Belarus, Poland, Germany and then France. As of this writing, it’s over the vast expanse of the Atlantic ocean — an extremely unusual path for a trans-Atlantic flight. The route is longer and, because it’s so far from land, potentially less safe.

Today’s flight path is at the top of this page. At the bottom are the last six flight paths for Aeroflot 150, all of which headed over Scandinavia, Canada and the United States.

So why is today’s Moscow-Havana Aeroflot commercial flight taking this very strange detour from its route? It’s not clear why, but suspicion is naturally turning to one Edward Snowden, the NSA leaker who’s been stuck in Moscow’s airport and is probably trying to find a way to get to Venezuela, Bolivia or Nicaragua, the three Latin American countries that have offered him asylum. To be clear, it is entirely possible there is another reason for the detour; the speculation that the plane carries Snowden and is diverting to avoid U.S. airspace may well turn out to be groundless.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/07/11/snowden-watch-todays-moscow-havana-flight-taking-a-very-odd-detour-that-avoids-the-u-s/

[flamingdem]

1. A reporter noted that there's bad weather in the Northern route however

perhaps there was a hint today from Havana when they published an article about how Cuba was a option for Snowden's escape from Moscow

http://www.trabajadores.cu/20130711/como-llegar-de-moscu-a-caracas-cinco-arriesgadas-opciones-para-snowden/

[dkf]

2. I will be just as tickled if he isn't on this plane...

So you don't think they will send jets after him huh?

[flamingdem]

3. He's not worth it at all

Especially if he's using other Aeroflot customers as human shields!

That said, it would be dramatic and get bold letters on newspaper front pages tomorrow.

[Agschmid]

5. No. I don't.

[randome]

4. I was going to say there was nothing to this until there are 5 threads on DU about it.

This is the third.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[flamingdem]

8. And two have Paul Revere pix!

Paul Revere is going to HAVANA CUBA

[flamingdem]

6. Paul Revere and stuff

This thread needs a Paul Revere like the other one

[randome]

10. I'm so sick of seeing Paul Revere, I'd almost rather see Olga again!

Almost, so don't get any ideas.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[flamingdem]

13. Olgita the Cuban Colonel waiting for Eduardo

[randome]

16. Say, she's rather sharp-looking. Maybe it's the bayonet.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[flamingdem]

18. Leakers go crazy for a sharp dressed gal

as ZZ Top says ... earworm!

[JimDandy]

7. This could be a test flight

to gauge the U.S. reaction to a plane that would probably go that route were it to carry Snowden, i.e. will the U.S. "scramble jets to catch a 29 yr old....hacker".

Or Snowden could actually be on the plane and on his way to asylum.

[Myrina]

19. Could also have been a diversion ....

... and instead he's either a/already in South America or b/ on a different flight.

[flamingdem]

9. The US govt. probably would have received a passenger manifest

so if they did not, then they can draw the logical conclusion

[Skinner]

11. Update 12:40 PM

Turns out that Aeroflot flight to Havana is diverting because of turbulence over Greenland

By Max Fisher, Published: July 11 at 12:40 pm

When the regular Aeroflot flight from Moscow to Havana took an unusual route, one that as of this writing has it high over the Atlantic and likely to avoid the U.S. airspace it usually crosses, many — myself included – wondered whether the plane might have diverted because it was carrying NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

It turns out, though, that a number of westbound trans-Atlantic flights are today taking this unusual southern route, apparently for weather-related reasons. It’s possible that Snowden could still be on the plane – perhaps his Russian handlers saw the flights diverting, knew Aeroflot would avoid U.S. airspace today and popped him on board. But it would seem that at least the flight path itself is due to weather and not, say, a call from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/07/11/turns-out-that-aeroflot-flight-to-havana-is-diverting-because-of-turbulence-over-greenland/

[flamingdem]

14. LOL!

Thanks Skinner

[randome]

15. That's what they WANT you to think.

The reality is this:

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[flamingdem]

21. Did Wikileaks get a discount on the fare?

[randome]

25. Wikileaks always trying to raise money reminds me of that Get Smart episode.

Where the Chief was ransomed and all they could raise for his release was something like $600.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

32. He reminds me more of a televangelist. nt

[dkf]

20. It would be impressive if they were that nimble as to take advantage.

[morningfog]

22. Or a happy coincidence.

I guess we'll find out in due time whether he's still in Moscow or not.

[dkf]

27. My gut says he is.

[ProSense]

28. Snowden doesn't have a passport

Internet Is Awash in Rumors That Edward Snowden Is on a Flight Over the Atlantic

Philip Bump

The Internet, which enjoys its conspiracy theories, is ablaze with speculation that an Aeroflot flight between Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport and Havana, Cuba, might be carrying a particularly interesting passenger: Edward Snowden. It's an idea is based on the thinnest of threads: a shift in the flight's normal route away from the United States—a shift that isn't that unusual, even for this week.

When Aeroflot 150 made the trip on Tuesday, it looked like this, as mapped by FlightAware:

<...>

There are any number of reasons that the plane might move further offshore. For example, there is a line of thunderstorms on the Eastern seaboard right now, which might bear avoidance. Or perhaps it's related to the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal, which "EXTENDS FROM HISPANIOLA NORTHWARD TO THE SOUTHEASTERN AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND THE ADJACENT ATLANTIC," in the all-caps words of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That path, in case it's not clear, lies just to the west of the Aeroflot flight.

Update, 12:45 p.m.: Yup, it's the weather. As the Washington Post points out, a number of flights are being diverted by turbulence over Greenland.

But there are so many other reasons this is unlikely. For one, as we detailed last week, most commercial flights would likely not take Snowden, given that he has no passport or (probably) entry papers for Cuba. Plus, it seems likely that a national airline, which pre-filed a passenger manifest and flight path, would be hard-pressed to keep Snowden's passage a secret. For another, as ABC News documented last week, Snowden probably would have been seen boarding the plane by one of the cadre of reporters camped out in the airport specifically hoping to catch a glimpse.

- more -

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/07/edward-snowden-commercial-flight-over-atlantic-probably-not/67083/

The notion that a major commercial airline is going to smuggle Snowden out of Russia is far fetched.

[flamingdem]

29. World Service Authority issues world passport for Snowden (lol)

http://english.ruvr.ru/news/2013_07_10/World-Service-Authority-issues-world-passport-for-Snowden-8627/

[Renew Deal]

26. HAARP!

[flamingdem]

30. Is that the secret thingy that can change the weather?

kewl

[Renew Deal]

12. Update: This is just noise

Update: It turns out that several West-bound trans-Atlantic flights are diverting south today due to unusual turbulence over Greenland. It’s still possible that Snowden may be on board (click here for why) but it does suggest that the plane detoured for meteorological rather than political reasons.

[morningfog]

24. Such noise will continue until Snowden' feet are

are on an asylum granting nations ground or on US custody.

[Cleita]

17. K&R

[HipChick]

23. Damn...he could have flown Standby...

[randome]

31. Snowden doesn't need a plane.

"I'm the luckiest boy in the world!"


[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[BlueCheese]

33. Isn't the press supposed to look into things like the weather...

... and other possible causes of a different flight path before speculating and publishing?