Forced landing of Ryanair flight in Belarus was‘state-sponsored aviation piracy Ryanair said in a statement that Belarusian air traffic control had instructed the plane to divert to the capital. File picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire Cate McCurry, PA
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Picture by Andrei Stasevich/BelTA Pool Photo via AP
The Republic of Ireland’s foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney has said the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Belarus was “state-sponsored aviation piracy”.
Belarus state media said the aircraft – which was travelling from Athens in Greece to Lithuanian capital Vilnius – was switched to Minsk following a bomb threat.
Mr Martin said it was “piracy in the skies” and reflects a growing authoritarianism across the world.
Belarus state media said the aircraft – which was travelling from Athens in Greece to Lithuanian capital Vilnius – was switched to Minsk following an alleged bomb threat.
Authorities in Minsk arrested activist and blogger Roman Protasevich.
“Certainly it was a state-sponsored coercive act,” Mr Martin said.
The forced landing of a passenger plane in Belarus today to detain a journalist is absolutely unacceptable.
These unprecedented actions have caused widespread concern across the EU – and they must be addressed at tomorrow’s #EUCO
The Taoiseach said forcing the plane to land in Belarus to arrest the journalist was “unacceptable”.
Ryanair flight s forced landing in Belarus a âstate-sponsored hijackingâ
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemns outlandish actions by Belarusian authorities and President Alexander Lukashenko
Max ChannonNetwork Content Editor
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The forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Belarus was âstate-sponsored aviation piracyâ, Irelandâs foreign affairs minister has said.
Ireland’s foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney has said the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Belarus was “state-sponsored aviation piracy”.
Belarus state media said the aircraft – which was travelling from Athens in Greece to Lithuanian capital Vilnius – was switched to Minsk following a bomb threat.
Authorities in Minsk arrested activist and blogger Roman Protasevich.
Mr Coveney said EU leaders need to make clear decisions following the incident, which opposition groups described as a “hijacking” of a plane.
“This was effectively state-sponsored aviation piracy,” Mr Coveney told RTE.
The Ryanair flight was diverted to Minsk (Niall Carson/PA)
“It was an Irish airline, a plane registered in Poland, full of EU nationals, travelling between two EU capitals, flying through Belarusian airspace, which would be absolutely normal.