SBU denies info on threat to scramble fighters to return Belavia aircraft to airport

16:33, 22.10.2016 1 min read

The information that a Belavia aircraft, making a flight on the route from Kyiv (Zhuliany) to Minsk, was returned to Zhuliany airport under the threat of scrambling fighters is not true, chief of staff of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Oleksandr Tkachuk has stated.

"The plane had already been in the air for some time. At the request of the air traffic regulator the plane made relevant maneuvers and landed at the airport, where necessary verification measures were taken to ensure there is no threat to the national interests and security of Ukraine," Tkachuk said on the air of the 112.Ukraina TV channel on Saturday.

He noted in this situation the SBU, the airport services and the Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise (UkSATSE) acted within the competence of international flight rules for civil aircraft.

"I think it's a bit absurd to believe that our military aircraft could be used against the civil airplane," he said, asked whether it was true that fighters should have been scrambled.