FR4978 ATH-VNO diverted, escorted to Minsk, alleged bomb threat – but was it?
It further requested the President of the Council to forward the fact-finding investigation report, and the Council’s related decisions thereon, to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres for consideration and any appropriate action.
The Council Representative for the Russian Federation meanwhile expressed his State’s strong objection to identifying Belarus as the source of the unlawful interference which took place.
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A few ideas about effectiveness.
Sending the report and findings - that is, about violations having occurred - to the UN SecGen could serve a kind of indirect purpose. There isn't any expectation that the UN would take direct action (even if it were not completely consumed by climate change agitation and hysteria). But if the premise is accepted that the actions by Belarus in this incident bear some linkage to the onset and progress of the Ukraine war, then sending the report and findings along is expected to contribute to stabilizing the environment, if not consensus, with regard to sanctions. Especially so, with regard to sanctions pertaining to civil aviation. Indirect, yes, but still in the direction of effectiveness. (Similar logic applies to keeping stable the environment in which Finland and Sweden as NATO allies are before many national legislatures.)
Also, meanwhile back at ICAO - its Council, the Assembly this fall, and its many technical and support programs - the report and findings now are matters of record. Though again the logic is indirect, these actions by Council are likely to be part of the context, or "frame" in today's vernacular, when other issues are before the Organization. Case in point - when further support for information resources about conflict zones was before the Organization at a High-Level Safety Conference in 2015 and specifically in the aftermath of MH17 being shot down, the Russian participant objected to any significant action being taken. With this report and findings on the record, in the next instance of ICAO addressing issues of this variety, the credibility - and hence IMO effectiveness - of such objections and objectors will be substantially reduced.
One of the roles and responsibilities of EUROCONTROL, as I understand it, is civil-military cooperation in the Eurpoean skies, and to provide solid foundations for such cooperation as the SESAR project moves forward. Knowing that this states the obvious, as SLF/attorney I'll say it anyway: the actions by Belarus in this incident were antithetical to such cooperation. Making the report and findings matters of record might be looked back upon, a few years from now, as very useful when the next nefarious conduct incident occurs.
Sending the report and findings - that is, about violations having occurred - to the UN SecGen could serve a kind of indirect purpose. There isn't any expectation that the UN would take direct action (even if it were not completely consumed by climate change agitation and hysteria). But if the premise is accepted that the actions by Belarus in this incident bear some linkage to the onset and progress of the Ukraine war, then sending the report and findings along is expected to contribute to stabilizing the environment, if not consensus, with regard to sanctions. Especially so, with regard to sanctions pertaining to civil aviation. Indirect, yes, but still in the direction of effectiveness. (Similar logic applies to keeping stable the environment in which Finland and Sweden as NATO allies are before many national legislatures.)
Also, meanwhile back at ICAO - its Council, the Assembly this fall, and its many technical and support programs - the report and findings now are matters of record. Though again the logic is indirect, these actions by Council are likely to be part of the context, or "frame" in today's vernacular, when other issues are before the Organization. Case in point - when further support for information resources about conflict zones was before the Organization at a High-Level Safety Conference in 2015 and specifically in the aftermath of MH17 being shot down, the Russian participant objected to any significant action being taken. With this report and findings on the record, in the next instance of ICAO addressing issues of this variety, the credibility - and hence IMO effectiveness - of such objections and objectors will be substantially reduced.
One of the roles and responsibilities of EUROCONTROL, as I understand it, is civil-military cooperation in the Eurpoean skies, and to provide solid foundations for such cooperation as the SESAR project moves forward. Knowing that this states the obvious, as SLF/attorney I'll say it anyway: the actions by Belarus in this incident were antithetical to such cooperation. Making the report and findings matters of record might be looked back upon, a few years from now, as very useful when the next nefarious conduct incident occurs.
Last edited by WillowRun 6-3; 20th Jul 2022 at 20:28.
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That said a near global condemnation has its consequences on the aircrfat leasing , insurance and buisness fields. One day Belarus will have to return to the table if they want they economy to work. I do not think Belarus wants to end up like North Korea in a few yaers.
One of the roles and responsibilities of EUROCONTROL, as I understand it, is civil-military cooperation in the Eurpoean skies, and to provide solid foundations for such cooperation as the SESAR project moves forward. Knowing that this states the obvious, as SLF/attorney I'll say it anyway: the actions by Belarus in this incident were antithetical to such cooperation. Making the report and findings matters of record might be looked back upon, a few years from now, as very useful when the next nefarious conduct incident occurs.
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@Bidule
Yes, the country is outside EUROCONTROL (AFAIK). But despite that fact, sending fighter aircraft on pretext of false and maliciously issued "bomb threat" anywhere in European skies is quite antithetical to the pertinent type of cooperation. I don't think a rough equivalent of the Iron Curtain in the skies will be helpful when the Single European Sky and digitization become realities, in operations.
Yes, the country is outside EUROCONTROL (AFAIK). But despite that fact, sending fighter aircraft on pretext of false and maliciously issued "bomb threat" anywhere in European skies is quite antithetical to the pertinent type of cooperation. I don't think a rough equivalent of the Iron Curtain in the skies will be helpful when the Single European Sky and digitization become realities, in operations.
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We have nough issues inside Eurocntrol between currents member Staets ( e.g Cyprus- Turkey , or even Spain-UK over Gibraltar etc..) we do not need to be involved with issues of non-members.
As Bidule correctly said, Belarus is not a Eurocontrol member, or even associated .Their ( very competent) Civil aviation Authority really wanted to work closer with Europe , but this incident plus their Governement support for Russia in Ukraine is unfortunately putting them years backwards.
A last point you said :
sending fighter aircraft on pretext of false and maliciously issued "bomb threat" anywhere in European skies is quite antithetical
3.9.2. At 10:15 UTC, when RYR 1TZ was landing, a MIG-29 was recorded 55 km southwest of RYR 1TZ. From the evidence provided by Belarus, no escort or intercept occurred between the MIG-29 and RYR 1TZ and no communications by the MIG-29 was recorded on the radio channels used by RYR 1TZ. According to information provided by the flight crew and cabin crew and, subsequently, the controller, there was no communication, interaction, visual sighting or other knowledge of military aircraft involvement with the flight.
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I'll stand corrected, then, insofar as the occurrence of an actual intercept is concerned. Nevertheless, that the occurence of such an intercept was regarded as plausible by many if not most knowledgeable observers - because it would have been (if it occurred) consistent with the rest of the Belarus actions - still provides a warrant for the claim here.
As for whether EUROCONTROL's initiatives oriented toward the future of ATM, airspace architecture, projects such as ECHO, are reasons for the organization to be particularly concerned about Belarus actions in this incident, well, I don't speak for EUROCONTROL. Nor do I write on its behalf.
As for whether EUROCONTROL's initiatives oriented toward the future of ATM, airspace architecture, projects such as ECHO, are reasons for the organization to be particularly concerned about Belarus actions in this incident, well, I don't speak for EUROCONTROL. Nor do I write on its behalf.
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....
The Council expressed appreciation to the ICAO fact finding investigation team for its strenuous efforts and comprehensive analysis and reiterated its condemnation of the communication of false information endangering the safety of an aircraft in flight is an offence under the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the safety of Civil Aviation (Montreal Convention).
The Council also recalled that the use of civil aviation in this manner contravenes the spirit of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), in particular its Preamble and Article 4.
.......
It further requested the President of the Council to forward the fact-finding investigation report, and the Council’s related decisions thereon, to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres for consideration and any appropriate action.
The Council expressed appreciation to the ICAO fact finding investigation team for its strenuous efforts and comprehensive analysis and reiterated its condemnation of the communication of false information endangering the safety of an aircraft in flight is an offence under the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the safety of Civil Aviation (Montreal Convention).
The Council also recalled that the use of civil aviation in this manner contravenes the spirit of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), in particular its Preamble and Article 4.
.......
It further requested the President of the Council to forward the fact-finding investigation report, and the Council’s related decisions thereon, to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres for consideration and any appropriate action.
The lessons taken are that future regulations need to be setup more from a point of view, that those states with a powerful position currently looking "honest" might turn rogue in the future. Regulations should become more resilient against that. Too many people ignore the fact that sometimes bad actors can come into power and even increase their power position using large scale manipulation, as we've seen in Russia and China in the past 10 years, effectively derailing a prosperous future for all on earth.
Just imagine what would happen, in the fortunately unlikely event, when Trump would become president again in 2025 (or G forbid, would have succeeded with his insurrection attempts, only just 1.5 years ago) ?
Only half a speed-brake
Eurocontrol really isn't the FAA. Different scope, mostly overlay of PANS-ATM.
Other agendas may or may not be covered by different EU multinational bodies of varying authority and the individual countries' ethical obligations to ICAO standards.
ECAC perhaps?
Other agendas may or may not be covered by different EU multinational bodies of varying authority and the individual countries' ethical obligations to ICAO standards.
ECAC perhaps?
Belarus president about the incident
I can't post urls, feel free to google it.
...eng.belta.by/president/view/lukashenko-describes-icaos-report-on-ryanair-flight-incident-as-falsification-151954-2022/
Speaking about the recently released report of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “It is falsification.” The Belarusian side has already evaluated this document. “Why was it released today or yesterday? What right does ICAO have to introduce sanctions? What right does France have? What right do you have? The right belongs to the United Nations Organization. But the UN has not even recommended it,” the Belarusian leader stated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that European countries introduced sanctions to close air space for Belarus even before any documents or reports were published. “You introduced sanctions against [the Belarusian air carrier] Belavia two years ago without a reason. On the second day on orders from Washington all of you starting with Macron and ending with German Chancellor Merkel started shouting: ‘Belarusians are criminals!' You didn't have facts at your disposal back then.”
Meanwhile a much more serious incident involving an Indonesian aircraft, which was shot down in Ukrainian sky, is still being investigated, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. “Where is the result? So many people died there,” he noted.
Speaking about Roman Protasevich, who was on board of Ryanair Flight 4978, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted he lives a calm life in Belarus and does not want to go to the West.
This last line is just golden.
...eng.belta.by/president/view/lukashenko-describes-icaos-report-on-ryanair-flight-incident-as-falsification-151954-2022/
Lukashenko describes ICAO's report on Ryanair flight incident as falsification
MINSK, 21 July (BelTA) – The International Civil Aviation Organization's report on the Ryanair Flight 4978 incident is falsified. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement in an interview with the news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP), BelTA has learned.Speaking about the recently released report of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “It is falsification.” The Belarusian side has already evaluated this document. “Why was it released today or yesterday? What right does ICAO have to introduce sanctions? What right does France have? What right do you have? The right belongs to the United Nations Organization. But the UN has not even recommended it,” the Belarusian leader stated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that European countries introduced sanctions to close air space for Belarus even before any documents or reports were published. “You introduced sanctions against [the Belarusian air carrier] Belavia two years ago without a reason. On the second day on orders from Washington all of you starting with Macron and ending with German Chancellor Merkel started shouting: ‘Belarusians are criminals!' You didn't have facts at your disposal back then.”
Meanwhile a much more serious incident involving an Indonesian aircraft, which was shot down in Ukrainian sky, is still being investigated, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. “Where is the result? So many people died there,” he noted.
Speaking about Roman Protasevich, who was on board of Ryanair Flight 4978, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted he lives a calm life in Belarus and does not want to go to the West.
This last line is just golden.
MINSK, 21 July (BelTA) – Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that European countries introduced sanctions to close air space for Belarus even before any documents or reports were published. “You introduced sanctions against [the Belarusian air carrier] Belavia two years ago without a reason. On the second day on orders from Washington all of you starting with Macron and ending with German Chancellor Merkel started shouting: ‘Belarusians are criminals!' You didn't have facts at your disposal back then.” Meanwhile a much more serious incident involving an Indonesian aircraft, which was shot down in Ukrainian sky, is still being investigated, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. “Where is the result? So many people died there,” he noted.
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Law & Order - Minsk Political Unit
From Wall Street Journal - 4 May 2023
Belarusian Blogger Sentenced To Prison (BY ANN M. SIMMONS)
Roman Protasevich, the Belarusian activist who was arrested after the government scrambled a jet fighter to divert his Ryanair flight from Greece, was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The Minsk Regional Court in the Belarusian capital Wednesday found Mr. Protasevich guilty of organizing riots, calling for acts of terrorism and insulting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, among other crimes, Belarus’s state news agency Belta reported.
The dissident blogger will now stay under house arrest until the court’s verdict comes into force, prosecutor Natalya Sokolova told journalists, the news agency reported, when he will be taken to serve his sentence in a high-security penal colony. She didn’t specify when that would happen.
Mr. Protasevich was one of Mr. Lukashenko’s most ardent critics following the disputed election that returned the Belarusian leader to power in 2020. From his base in Poland, Mr. Protasevich ran an opposition news channel, NEXTA, on the Telegram messaging app, which quickly became one of the most widely viewed news sources in Belarus.
Authorities in Minsk put him on and other NEXTA journalists on a list of people involved in what they described as terrorist activities, and in May 2021 sent a jet fighter to divert the flight on which he was flying from Greece to Lithuania, forcing it to land in the Belarusian capital, where he was detained.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary called the incident “a case of state-sponsored hijacking,” and the move triggered European Union sanctions against Mr. Lukashenko.
Belarusian Blogger Sentenced To Prison (BY ANN M. SIMMONS)
Roman Protasevich, the Belarusian activist who was arrested after the government scrambled a jet fighter to divert his Ryanair flight from Greece, was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The Minsk Regional Court in the Belarusian capital Wednesday found Mr. Protasevich guilty of organizing riots, calling for acts of terrorism and insulting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, among other crimes, Belarus’s state news agency Belta reported.
The dissident blogger will now stay under house arrest until the court’s verdict comes into force, prosecutor Natalya Sokolova told journalists, the news agency reported, when he will be taken to serve his sentence in a high-security penal colony. She didn’t specify when that would happen.
Mr. Protasevich was one of Mr. Lukashenko’s most ardent critics following the disputed election that returned the Belarusian leader to power in 2020. From his base in Poland, Mr. Protasevich ran an opposition news channel, NEXTA, on the Telegram messaging app, which quickly became one of the most widely viewed news sources in Belarus.
Authorities in Minsk put him on and other NEXTA journalists on a list of people involved in what they described as terrorist activities, and in May 2021 sent a jet fighter to divert the flight on which he was flying from Greece to Lithuania, forcing it to land in the Belarusian capital, where he was detained.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary called the incident “a case of state-sponsored hijacking,” and the move triggered European Union sanctions against Mr. Lukashenko.
Magyar_flyer, you really need to go post one and read what actually happened. Belarus literally high jacked this flight with armed fighter jets.
5.10. From the evidence provided by Belarus, no escort or intercept occurred between the MIG-29 and RYR 1TZ and no communications by the MIG-29 was recorded on the radio channels used by RYR 1TZ. According to information provided by the flight crew and cabin crew, there was no communication, interaction, visual sighting or other knowledge of military aircraft involvement with the flight.
Last edited by atakacs; 5th May 2023 at 00:42.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
atakacs. Are you saying that hijacking an international flight, by whatever means, is acceptable? Does anyone check the actual routing of a flight before booking?
They tricked the crew to emergency land in their country in order to have certain passengers arrested. A trap.
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Reading the ICAO report would make you understand what happenned . Stop coming back with the debunked theories . The Minsk authorities are 100% responsible for this hijacking and it is not the pax that should face justice but the perpetrators responsible.
As to ATC, the controllers just relayed to the crew what they were told by their supervisors and state security men behind them. We all would have done the same. Hindsight is always a wonderdul thing.
Less hair here resumed the situation very well in 20 words.
As to ATC, the controllers just relayed to the crew what they were told by their supervisors and state security men behind them. We all would have done the same. Hindsight is always a wonderdul thing.
Less hair here resumed the situation very well in 20 words.