Was en-route last night from Turkey back to the UK when an interesting exchange took place between a CSA flight and Sofia Control. The CSA flight was ahead of us and was asked by Macedonia Control what their intentions where as they were not permitted into Bulgarian airspace. After some confusion, Macedonia asked the CSA what the two waypoints were after EVIVI (FIR boundary between Macedonia CTL and Sofia CTL). The CSA was advised to change frequency to Sofia.
Shortly afterwards we heard Sofia Control demanding that the CSA do a 180 and head out of their airspace back to EVIVI waypoint. There ensued much confusion in broken english between the controller and the pilot. The pilot insisted that he had been cleared to the next waypoint and the controller demanding that he leave Bulgarian airspcae immediately. It got to the point that the controller threatened the CSA aircraft that if they didn't make a 180 there and then, fighters would be sent to deal with them!!!!
We then saw an aircraft many miles ahead, swing round and head back in the opposite direction with calls made by the CSA not answered by Sofia and then being answered by Skopje Control on 121.5 and advising the CSA to call Sofia. Eventually, the CSA stopped replying. Next we heard Sofia trying to contact the CSA on both frequencies but no reply from the CSA.
Later on when under Budapest CTL we heard the CSA check in and they were cleared onwards and started their descent. No doubt they sorted out the mess and were probably recleared by Macedonia CTL into Yugoslav airspace.
Certainly perked up the start of a long, second night sector.
I suppose the moral of the story is make sure your Operations department give you a plog that matches what they filed with ATC!!!
