Euro News Source
No Result
View All Result
Friday, July 1, 2022
  • Login
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • All Europe
    • United Kingdom
      • England
      • Ireland
      • Scotland
      • Wales
    • France
    • Germany
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Austria
    • Belgium
    • Netherlands
    • Switzerland
  • Economics
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Videosnew
Subscribe
Euro News Source
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • All Europe
    • United Kingdom
      • England
      • Ireland
      • Scotland
      • Wales
    • France
    • Germany
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Austria
    • Belgium
    • Netherlands
    • Switzerland
  • Economics
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Videosnew
No Result
View All Result
Euro News Source
No Result
View All Result
Home Economics

Ryanair CEO says Belarus plane grounding was ‘state-sponsored piracy’

by Francesco Mazzagatti
August 25, 2021
in Economics
A A
0
153
SHARES
1.9k
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterLinkedin

LONDON — Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary asserted Monday that the decision by Belarusian authorities to divert a plane flying over its territory and to arrest a dissident journalist on board constituted “state-sponsored piracy.”

He said he believed Belarusian KGB operatives were traveling on the scheduled flight from Athens for Vilnius, Lithuania.

“It appears the intent of the authorities was to remove a journalist and his traveling companion … we believe there were some KGB agents offloaded at the airport as well,” O’Leary told Irish Newstalk radio.

He said he believed the incident was likely the first of its kind for a European airline.

“This was a case of state-sponsored hijacking … state-sponsored piracy,” he said.

European Union leaders will discuss toughening their sanctions regime against Belarus on May 24 at their planned summit, after Minsk diverted the Ryanair passenger flight flying from Athens to Vilnius and arrested Belarusian opposition activist Roman Protasevich.

Petras Malukas | AFP | Getty Images

Belarus on Sunday ordered its military to scramble a fighter jet to force the Ryanair plane to change course and land in its capital city, citing a potential security threat on board. State media in Belarus said President Alexander Lukashenko had personally given the order.

CNBC contacted the Belarusian foreign ministry for comment Monday but is yet to receive a reply.

Police arrested political activist and blogger Roman Protasevich, 26, when passengers disembarked. His girlfriend Sofya Sapega, a 23-year-old Russian citizen studying at the European Humanities University in Lithuania, was also detained, according to reports.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said via Twitter on Sunday that the “outrageous and illegal behaviour of the regime in Belarus will have consequences,” adding those responsible “must be sanctioned.”

A woman stands with a poster reading ‘Where is Roman (Protasevich)?!’ in the arrival area as passengers disembark from a Ryanair passenger plane from Athens, Greece, that was intercepted and diverted to Minsk on the same day by Belarus authorities, after it landed at Vilnius International Airport, its initial destination, on May 23, 2021.

Petras Malukas | AFP | Getty Images

The European Union has also called for the immediate release of Protasevich and said it would discuss the appropriate action to take.

The U.S. echoed calls for the immediate release of Protasevich and said it condemned the “forced diversion” of the flight.

“Given indications the forced landing was based on false pretenses, we support the earliest possible meeting of the council of the International Civil Aviation Organization to review these events,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

In a statement Monday, the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations and the European Cockpit Association also shared concerns that the forced landing amounted to an “act of unlawful interference, bearing all the hallmarks of state-sponsored hijacking.”

Both bodies called for an independent enquiry into the incident.

“Any military intervention against a civilian aircraft constitutes a willful hazard to the safety of passengers and crew,” they added. 

Source: CNBC

Tags: AirlinesAlexander LukashenkoBelarusBelarus governmentbusiness newsEUGreeceLithuaniaLondonRyanair Holdings PLCTravelUrsula von der Leyen

Related Posts

Economics

Central Bank of Cyprus governor says gradualism warranted as ECB normalizes monetary policy

June 29, 2022
Economics

NATO set to increase its high-readiness forces to over 300,000 in massive military buildup

June 27, 2022
Economics

Russia’s neighbors fear NATO’s defense plans are not fit for purpose and they could be quickly overrun

June 27, 2022
Economics

Russia is squeezing Europe’s gas supplies, sparking a bitter and reluctant return to coal

June 21, 2022
Economics

The UK’s plan to rip up Brexit trade rules slammed for being in ‘clear breach’ of international law

June 14, 2022
Economics

European Central Bank poised to signal July rate hike as inflation jumps to fresh record high

June 8, 2022
Please login to join discussion
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Woman livestreams fatal stabbing of half-sister

October 25, 2021

Prison sentences for protestors who pray outside abortion clinics in Spain

February 4, 2022

Investigation opened into porn video recorded on altar of Flemish church

November 3, 2021

Irish couple, 23 and 26, ‘carry out vicious knife attack in Sydney’

October 14, 2021
Freedom Day

Freedom Day

0
Fire Accident

Fire Accident In Iraq

0
Scotland

Advice from the Scotland Prime Minister

0
Brexiteers

Brexiteers Should Thank The EU

0

Wimbledon: Venus Williams and Jamie Murray kick off doubles partnership with acquire around Michael Venus and Alicja Rosolska

July 1, 2022

Govt might need to rethink its method on residing with COVID if summer season surge continues

July 1, 2022

Matteo Guendouzi tends to make lasting transfer to Marseille from Arsenal, Jorge Sampaoli quits as coach

July 1, 2022

Mohamed Salah symptoms new prolonged-term agreement at Liverpool to come to be optimum-paid out player in club’s heritage

July 1, 2022

Recent Posts

Wimbledon: Venus Williams and Jamie Murray kick off doubles partnership with acquire around Michael Venus and Alicja Rosolska

July 1, 2022

Govt might need to rethink its method on residing with COVID if summer season surge continues

July 1, 2022

Matteo Guendouzi tends to make lasting transfer to Marseille from Arsenal, Jorge Sampaoli quits as coach

July 1, 2022

Mohamed Salah symptoms new prolonged-term agreement at Liverpool to come to be optimum-paid out player in club’s heritage

July 1, 2022

Chris Froome is the ‘greatest Tour de France rider of generation’ – Bradley Wiggins

July 1, 2022

Cameron Norrie: British number a single reaches previous 16 of Wimbledon for to start with time

July 1, 2022

Recent Posts

  • Wimbledon: Venus Williams and Jamie Murray kick off doubles partnership with acquire around Michael Venus and Alicja Rosolska
  • Govt might need to rethink its method on residing with COVID if summer season surge continues
  • Matteo Guendouzi tends to make lasting transfer to Marseille from Arsenal, Jorge Sampaoli quits as coach
  • Mohamed Salah symptoms new prolonged-term agreement at Liverpool to come to be optimum-paid out player in club’s heritage
  • Chris Froome is the ‘greatest Tour de France rider of generation’ – Bradley Wiggins

Categories

  • Austria
  • Bahamas
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Breaking News
  • Brexiteers
  • Business
  • China
  • COVID Cases
  • Covid-19
  • Cyber security
  • Debt
  • Economics
  • Energy
  • England
  • Fashion
  • Fire Accident
  • France
  • Freedom Day
  • Germany
  • Health
  • Human Launch
  • Humanitarian
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • News
  • Norway
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Refugees
  • Russia
  • Russia
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Science
  • Scotland
  • Scotland
  • Spain
  • Spanish-Flu
  • Sports
  • Switzerland
  • Travel
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom
  • Videos
  • Wales
  • Zambia

Site Navigation

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Guest Post
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us
Euro News Source

Euro News Source is one of the best sources of European News. We provide the latest news from the European Union and its member states, local and international political, economic and sports news. Follow us to receive all news from around the European Union.

© 2021 Euro News Source.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • All Europe
    • United Kingdom
      • England
      • Ireland
      • Scotland
      • Wales
    • France
    • Germany
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Austria
    • Belgium
    • Netherlands
    • Switzerland
  • Economics
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Videos

© 2021 Euro News Source.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?