Russia says British officials search Aeroflot flight at Heathrow airport

[rooster59]

Russia says British officials search Aeroflot flight at Heathrow airport

 

(Reuters) - The Russian embassy in Britain said that British authorities had searched an Aeroflot plane at London's Heathrow airport on Friday.

 

"Border Force and Customs officers have searched the aircraft that was conducting the Aeroflot flights 2582 / 2583, Moscow – London – Moscow. This kind of event is extraordinary," said the embassy in a statement http://bit.ly/2pRqqHR.

 

The embassy added that the British officials declined to specify the reasons for the search.

 

"The Embassy has sent a diplomatic note demanding the British side to provide explanations of the incident," the statement added.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-31

[baboon]

I always thought that an aircraft was considered sovereign territory and that officials can only board with the Captain's permission? Can anybody set me straight here?

[than]

2 hours ago, baboon said:

I always thought that an aircraft was considered sovereign territory and that officials can only board with the Captain's permission? Can anybody set me straight here?

No it' not considering as sovereign territory, according to the Chicago Convention on Air Transport:

"When the aircraft is on the ground,  all the attributes of State sovereignty are fully exercised because the aircraft does not benefit from a status of extraterritoriality. The aircraft is subject to the authorities and rules of the States over which it circulates or on which it arises. These authorities have prerogatives to which the captain and the passengers can not object"

[terryw]

The Russians are getting rattled by the reaction to their behaviour.

[baboon]

28 minutes ago, than said:

No it' not considering as sovereign territory, according to the Chicago Convention on Air Transport:

"When the aircraft is on the ground,  all the attributes of State sovereignty are fully exercised because the aircraft does not benefit from a status of extraterritoriality. The aircraft is subject to the authorities and rules of the States over which it circulates or on which it arises. These authorities have prerogatives to which the captain and the passengers can not object"

O.K. Thanks.

[trigpoint]

3 hours ago, baboon said:

I always thought that an aircraft was considered sovereign territory and that officials can only board with the Captain's permission? Can anybody set me straight here?

Germans didn't think so when they seized a Thai jet aircraft over an unpaid debt from Thailand to a German company.

[meinphuket]

They should subject all Russian planes abroad to a search, that will rattle that megalomaniacal pompous little <deleted> in the Kremlin.

[metisdead]

A troll post has been removed. 

[Basil B]

3 hours ago, meinphuket said:

They should subject all Russian planes abroad to a search, that will rattle that megalomaniacal pompous little <deleted> in the Kremlin.

Problem is that the Russians will retaliate, probably start pulling BA aircraft to pieces.

[Basil B]

They can search ships that enter UK ports, there are a lot of customs formalities that have to be adhered too, one is all duty free and booze needs to be looked away in sealed bins...

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

Where has Russia been the last 30 years? Every international aircraft is searched after arrival every time for contraband and dangerous items that may have been secreted by smugglers, criminals or terrorists.

A different kind of search? Or maybe fake news.

[overherebc]

Out of date one but one of these opens many doors.

[Morch]

Making a mental note not to fly in/out Europe/US with Russian airlines, and probably skip flights with layovers in Russia. No tears shed, but guess a bummer if you happen to be delayed.