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Press TV, Iran
Oct 15 2012
Armenian plane forced to land in Turkey 'for security checks'
Turkey has forced an Armenian aircraft heading to the Syrian city of
Aleppo to land in the eastern province of Erzurum for security checks
on its cargo, a Turkish official says.
"The civilian plane carrying humanitarian aid from Armenia to Aleppo
asked for permission to use Turkish airspace," AFP quoted a foreign
ministry official as saying on Monday.
"We gave the permission on condition that the plane takes a technical
landing and it will take off if the cargo is clear after security
checks," the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, added.
This is while Turkey's Milliyet newspaper said in a report that the
Armenian plane was intercepted by Turkish fighter jets.
A similar move was taken against a Syrian plane on October 10, when
Turkish fighter jets forced a passenger plane heading to Damascus from
Moscow to land in the capital Ankara.
The Airbus A320 was intercepted as it entered Turkish airspace and was
reportedly carrying 35 passengers, including 17 Russian nationals.
Turkish foreign minister said the decision was made based on
information that the aircraft might be transporting `certain equipment
in breach of civil aviation rules.'
The move irked Russia, which demanded that Turkish officials provide
an explanation, and infuriated Damascus, where the transport minister
condemned Ankara's move as an act of `air piracy [which] contradicts
civil aviation treaties.'
Syrian aviation officials have vowed to pursue the case and to make a
formal complaint about the Turkish action in the international fora.
SAB/MA
Oct 15 2012
Armenian plane forced to land in Turkey 'for security checks'
Turkey has forced an Armenian aircraft heading to the Syrian city of
Aleppo to land in the eastern province of Erzurum for security checks
on its cargo, a Turkish official says.
"The civilian plane carrying humanitarian aid from Armenia to Aleppo
asked for permission to use Turkish airspace," AFP quoted a foreign
ministry official as saying on Monday.
"We gave the permission on condition that the plane takes a technical
landing and it will take off if the cargo is clear after security
checks," the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, added.
This is while Turkey's Milliyet newspaper said in a report that the
Armenian plane was intercepted by Turkish fighter jets.
A similar move was taken against a Syrian plane on October 10, when
Turkish fighter jets forced a passenger plane heading to Damascus from
Moscow to land in the capital Ankara.
The Airbus A320 was intercepted as it entered Turkish airspace and was
reportedly carrying 35 passengers, including 17 Russian nationals.
Turkish foreign minister said the decision was made based on
information that the aircraft might be transporting `certain equipment
in breach of civil aviation rules.'
The move irked Russia, which demanded that Turkish officials provide
an explanation, and infuriated Damascus, where the transport minister
condemned Ankara's move as an act of `air piracy [which] contradicts
civil aviation treaties.'
Syrian aviation officials have vowed to pursue the case and to make a
formal complaint about the Turkish action in the international fora.
SAB/MA