General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Pres Morales: "NO You can NOT inspect my aircraft!" Emergency UNASUR meeting. Hague Tribunal? [View all]Catherina
(35,568 posts)...
That turn has since become the source of enormous international controversy. Morales, while in Russia, had made public comments strongly suggesting he might be willing to shelter NSA leaker Edward Snowden, raising questions as to whether he might ferry the American fugitive on his personal plane.
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We still dont know for sure why the plane turned around; there are several competing versions of events. Bolivian officials said that France and Portugal, as well as perhaps Spain and Italy, had revoked permission for the plane to traverse their air space or had denied permission to refuel there, suggesting that the European countries believed Snowden may have been on the flight. French and Spanish officials said the flight was free to cross their air space.
On the other hand, audio purportedly taken from the flights communication with air traffic control, which can be accessed and recorded by anyone with the appropriate radio, has the pilot requesting permission to land because they believe they may not have enough fuel.
Once they landed, though, Austrian officials searched the plane for Snowden and checked the passports of everyone on board, according to a statement by a spokesman for the Austrian Interior Ministry, who called the checks routine.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/07/03/heres-a-map-showing-the-very-strange-flight-path-of-bolivian-president-evo-morales/