NATO calls forced Ryanair landing a ‘serious and dangerous incident’
NATO said the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk was a “serious and dangerous incident”, saying it required an international investigation.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“The Belarusian authorities must ensure the safe return of the crew and all passengers to Vilnius,” a spokesperson said.
“We are closely monitoring the forcible landing in Belarus of a Ryanair plane flying from Athens to Vilnius, and the reported detention of opposition figure Roman Protasevich,” the NATO spokesperson added.
Lithuania on called for European Union countries to jointly recommend that planes avoid Belarusian airspace, after a Ryanair flight was forced to land in Minsk and an opposition activist on board detained.
The proposal for a joint declaration will be put forward at a meeting of European leaders on Monday and will include a call to recognize the incident as a violation of International Civil Aviation organization rules, the foreign ministry said.
Lithuania has also asked its EU allies to summon Belarusian ambassadors and to protest against the use of military aircraft to divert planes.
“This is a brutal affront against all (the) EU,” Lithuania’s foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said in a statement.
Read more:
Belarus opposition figure detained when Ryanair plane diverted to Minsk
US, NATO eye international effort to help secure Kabul airport after withdrawal
-
US, NATO eye international effort to help secure Kabul airport after withdrawal
The United States and its NATO allies are exploring a possible international effort to help secure the airport in Afghanistan’s capital after ... World News -
Poland to become first NATO country to buy Turkish drones
Poland will buy 24 armed drones from Turkey, the Polish defense minister said on Saturday, becoming the first NATO member to buy Turkish-made unmanned ... World News -
Belarus opposition figure detained when Ryanair plane diverted to Minsk
A prominent opponent of Belarus' authoritarian president was arrested Sunday after the airliner in which he was traveling was diverted to the country ... World News