View source for Ryanair Flight 4978

{{Current|date=May 2021}}{{Short description|2021 aviation incident over Belarus}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| name = Ryanair Flight 4978<!-- Leave empty unless a custom infobox title is required. -->
| image = GDN SP-RSM 1.jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| alt = 
| caption = SP-RSM, the aircraft involved in the incident, photographed in 2019
| occurrence_type = Incident
| date = {{start date|2021|05|23|df=y}}
| summary = Flight forced to land on the pretence of a bomb threat.
| site = [[Minsk National Airport]]
| aircraft_type = [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-8AS]]
| aircraft_name = 
| operator = [[Buzz (Ryanair)|Buzz (Ryanair subsidiary)]]
| IATA = FR4978
| ICAO = RYR1TZ
| callsign = RYANAIR 1 TANGO ZULU
| tail_number = SP-RSM
| origin = [[Athens International Airport]]
| destination = [[Vilnius Airport]]
| occupants = 127
| passengers = 121
| crew = 6
| fatalities = 
| injuries = 
| missing = 
| survivors = 
}}

'''Ryanair Flight 4978''' was an international scheduled passenger flight on 23 May 2021 which, while in [[Belarus]]ian [[airspace]], was diverted by the Belarusian government to land at [[Minsk National Airport]] where two of its passengers, opposition activist and journalist [[Roman Protasevich]] and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega, were arrested by authorities and 4 others opted not to continue their journey after diversion. The flight from [[Athens International Airport]], Greece, to [[Vilnius Airport]], Lithuania, was escorted by a Belarusian [[fighter jet]] on the alleged pretence of a bomb threat on the orders of President [[Alexander Lukashenko]], and escorted to Minsk. The incident was condemned by members of the international community.

==Incident==
<mapframe width=300 height=350 zoom=4 latitude=47.4 longitude=26.5 text="Approximate route of the flight, showing its diversion toward Minsk.">
{
  "type": "ExternalData",
  "service": "page",
  "title": "Flight FR4978 2021-05-23.map"
}
</mapframe>
[[File:Belarus_Air_Force_Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-29_(9-13)_Pichugin-1.jpg|thumb|A Belarusian MiG-29 was used to [[Interceptor aircraft|intercept]] the flight.]]
On 23 May 2021, [[Ryanair]] Flight 4978 ([[Athens International Airport|Athens]]–[[Vilnius Airport|Vilnius]]) was diverted to [[Minsk National Airport]] after a bomb threat was made whilst the aircraft was {{convert|45|nmi|km mi}} south of Vilnius and {{convert|90|nmi|km mi}} west of [[Minsk]], but still in Belarusian airspace.<ref name=dw/><ref name=Herald/><ref name=ABC77859336/> According to the airline, its pilots were notified by Belarusian authorities of "a potential security threat on board" and [[forced landing|instructed to land]] the plane in Minsk.<ref name=nyt_23052021>{{cite news|first1=Anton|last1=Troianovski|first2=Ivan|last2=Nechepurenko|title=Belarus Forces Down Plane to Seize Dissident; Europe Sees 'State Hijacking'|date=23 May 2021|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/23/world/europe/ryanair-belarus.html|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref><ref name=bbc_24052021>{{cite news|title=Ryanair plane: Western powers voice outrage at plane 'hijacking'|date=24 May 2021|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57224452|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref>

The flight was carrying 6 crew and 126 passengers.<ref name=Herald/> In Minsk, Belarusian opposition activist [[Roman Protasevich]] was removed from the plane and arrested on the basis that he was listed on a Belarusian wanted list, accused of "terrorist" activities.<ref name=dw>{{cite web|title=Belarus opposition says government forced Ryanair plane to land to arrest journalist|date=23 May 2021|website=Deutsche Welle|access-date=23 May 2021|url=https://www.dw.com/en/belarus-opposition-says-government-forced-ryanair-plane-to-land-to-arrest-journalist/a-57635240}}</ref><ref name=NN273349>{{cite web |url=https://nn.by/?c=ar&i=273349 |title=У аэрапорце Мінска, рэзка змяніўшы курс, прызямліўся самалёт Афіны—Вільня — на борце быў Раман Пратасевіч |trans-title=Athens-Vilnius plane landed at Minsk airport, abruptly changing course, Raman Protasevich on board |language=be |publisher=nn.by |accessdate=23 May 2021}}</ref> His girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, was also removed from the aircraft by Belarusian authorities and detained.<ref name=RFE31270390/>  No explanation was presented for her arrest by Belarusian authorities. Sapega, a Russian citizen and student at the [[European Humanities University]] in Vilnius, was confirmed by the university to have been detained.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/vilnius-university-says-its-student-travelling-with-protasevich-also-detained-2021-05-24/|title=Vilnius university says its student travelling with Protasevich also detained, demands release|website=Reuters|date=24 May 2021}}</ref> Despite the fact that the plane was closer to Vilnius, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, according to his press service, personally ordered the flight to be redirected to Minsk and sent a [[Belarusian Air Force]] [[MiG-29]] fighter aircraft to escort it.<ref name=dw/><ref name=PeopleOnliner230521>{{cite web |url=https://people.onliner.by/2021/05/23/na-bortu-samoleta-avarijno-posazhennogo-v-minske-byl-roman-protasevich |title=На борту самолета, экстренно посаженного в Минске, был Роман Протасевич |date=23 May 2021 |trans-title=Roman Protasevich was on board the plane urgently landed in Minsk |language=be |publisher=People Onliner |accessdate=23 May 2021}}</ref><ref name=Spring96-103499>{{cite web |url=http://spring96.org/be/news/103499 |title=У аэрапорце "Мінск" затрыманы блогера Раман Пратасевіч |trans-title=Blogger Raman Protasevich detained at Minsk airport |language=be |publisher=Spring 96 |accessdate=23 May 2021 }}</ref> Belarusian government news agency [[BelTA]] said that the pilots asked to land in Minsk.<ref name=Belta442580>{{cite web |url=https://www.belta.by/president/view/komandu-prinjat-v-minske-zaminirovannyj-samolet-ryanair-dal-lichno-lukashenko-442580-2021/?/2874 |title=Команду принять в Минске "заминированный" самолет Ryanair дал лично Лукашенко |date=23 May 2021 |trans-title=Lukashenka personally gave the command to receive the "mined" Ryanair plane in Minsk |language=be |publisher=BelTA |accessdate=23 May 2021}}</ref><ref name=Kommersant4825832>{{cite web |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4825832 |title=Основатель Nexta Протасевич задержан в аэропорту Минска |date=23 May 2021 |trans-title=Nexta founder Protasevich detained at Minsk airport |language=ru |publisher=Kommersant |accessdate=23 May 2021}}</ref> Both Ryanair and Belarusian law enforcement said that no bombs were found onboard.<ref name=nyt_23052021/><ref name=bbc_24052021/>

Aside from Protasevich and his girlfriend, four other passengers who are presumed to be [[State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus|Belarusian KGB]] agents did not continue with the plane to Lithuania.<ref name="Delfi87268257">{{Cite web |last1=Plikūnė |first1=Dalia |last2=Užusienytė |first2=Jogintė |date=23 May 2021 |title=Be opozicionieriaus ir jo draugės į Lietuvą negrįžo ir dar keturi lėktuvo keleiviai: kas jie – kol kas mįslė |trans-title=Aside from the oppositionist and his female friend, 4 more passengers haven't returned to Lithuania: It's still unclear, who they were. |url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/nauseda-apie-i-lietuva-griztanti-lektuva-is-minsko-aisku-kad-protaseviciaus-ir-jo-drauges-jame-nebera.d?id=87268257 |publisher=DELFI |language=lt |accessdate=23 May 2021}}</ref><ref name=FlightGlobal143868/> Belarusian opposition leader [[Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya]] called for an investigation of the incident by the [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] (ICAO).<ref name=RFE31269351>{{cite web |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-raman-pratacevich-ryanair-false-bomb-threat/31269351.html |title=Belarusian Journalist Arrested After His Flight Diverted To Minsk After False Bomb Threat |publisher=Radio Free Europe |accessdate=23 May 2021 }}</ref> Protasevich had been placed on a list of "individuals involved in terrorist activity" the previous year for his role in [[2020–2021 Belarusian protests|anti-government protests]]. Tsikhanouskaya stated that Protasevich "faces the death penalty" in Belarus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/belarus-diverts-plane-to-arrest-journalist-says-opposition/a-57635240|title=Belarus diverts plane to arrest journalist, says opposition|website=Deutsche Welle|date=23 May 2021}}</ref> Another source said that Protasevich faced fifteen years' imprisonment.<ref name=RFE31270390/>

According to sources close to Tsikhanouskaya, Protasevich noticed that he was under surveillance at the Athens airport. In his messages, he stated that a man next to him at the line and at the checkpoint tried to take photos of his travel documents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efsyn.gr/kosmos/eyropi/295176_thriler-me-ptisi-apo-athina-i-leykorosia-anagkase-aeroskafos-na-prosgeiothei|title=Thriller in flight from Athens: Belarus forces plane to land to arrest activist (original: Θρίλερ με πτήση από Αθήνα: Η Λευκορωσία ανάγκασε αεροσκάφος να προσγειωθεί για να συλλάβει ακτιβιστή) |language=Greek |website=Efimerida Ton Syntakton|date=23 May 2021|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref> Additionally, Tadeusz Giczan, a member of the Nexta Telegram channel that was previously edited by Protasevich, said that officers of the KGB had been on the flight and that they had "initiated a fight with the Ryanair crew", insisting there was [[improvised explosive device|a bomb]] on board the plane.<ref name=afp_23052021/><ref name=ABC77859336>{{cite news|first=Patrick|last=Reevell|title=Ryanair flight forced to land in Belarus with top activist on board|date=24 May 2021|website=ABCNews.go.com|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/ryanair-flight-forced-land-belarus-top-activist-onboard/story?id=77859336|accessdate=24 May 2021}}</ref> A spokeswoman for the Lithuanian Airports state enterprise, Lina Beisine, told the [[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] news agency that Minsk National Airport said that the flight had been diverted "due to a conflict between a member of the crew and the passengers".<ref name=afp_23052021>{{cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/05/23/eu-outrage-as-belarus-diverts-flight-arrests-opposition-activist-a73985|title=EU Outrage as Belarus Diverts Flight, Arrests Opposition Activist|website=The Moscow Times|date=23 May 2021|agency=AFP}}</ref>

The flight course of FR4978 over Belarus on 23 May became unusual even before making the U-turn. Based on [[Flightradar24]] raw data, it was noted that the plane did not start to descend over Belarus even though this is usually done in preparation for landing in Vilnius. One possibility is that the unusual route indicates that the plane's pilots tried to keep the original direction to get into Lithuanian airspace as soon as possible, but were forced to divert after the Belarusian jet fighter's interference.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 May 2021 |title=Экс-главреда телеграм-канала NEXTA Романа Протасевича задержали в Беларуси . Его рейс Афины — Вильнюс экстренно сел в Минске в сопровождении истребителя. Европа грозит Лукашенко расследованием и санкциями. Главное |language=ru |work=Новая газета |publication-place=Moscow |url=https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2021/05/23/soosnovatelia-telegram-kanala-nexta-protasevicha-zaderzhali-v-belarusi |access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=В Ryanair заявили об указании Беларуси посадить самолет с Протасевичем в Минске |trans-title=Ryanair issues instructions to Belarus to land plane with Protasevich in Minsk | date=23 May 2021 | language=ru-RU |work=Deutsche Welle |url=https://www.dw.com/ru/ryanair-zajavil-o-trebovanie-belarusi-posadit-samolet-v-minske/a-57637295 |access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref>
 	
The aircraft was allowed to depart after seven hours on the ground at Minsk, reaching Vilnius eight and a half hours late. Protasevich, Sapega and three Russian citizens were not on board the aircraft when it landed at Vilnius.<ref name=Herald>{{cite web |url=http://avherald.com/h?article=4e7d7208&opt=0 |title=Incident: Ryanair Sun B738 near Minsk on May 23rd 2021, Greece calls diversion states hijack |first=Simon |last=Hradecky |publisher=The Aviation Herald |date=23 May 2021 |accessdate=24 May 2021}}</ref> Passengers noted having to wait 2.5 hours without water, toilet breaks or phone calls, while 50 to 60 Belarusian security officers at Minsk airport carried out checks.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Belarus Snatched a Dissident Off a Ryanair Plane From Greece |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-24/how-belarus-snatched-a-dissident-off-a-ryanair-plane-from-greece?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB |last1=Seputyte |first1=Milda |last2=Dendrinou |first2=Viktoria |date=23 May 2021 |access-date=24 May 2021 |via=bloomberg.com}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==

===Positions by Belarus's government ===
Following the incident, the Belarusian Ministry of Transport announced that it had set up a commission to investigate the forced landing, stating that it would notify the [[ICAO]] and [[IATA]] about the investigation's progress and publish a report shortly thereafter.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Staff|first=Reuters|date=2021-05-24|title=Belarus says it has set up commission to probe Ryanair incident - RIA|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/belarus-politics-investigation-commissio-idUSR4N2N9015|access-date=2021-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Belarus To Notify ICAO, IATA Of Readiness To Investigate Ryanair Incident - Minsk|url=https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/belarus-to-notify-icao-iata-of-readiness-to-1258206.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=UrduPoint|language=en}}</ref>

On 24 May 2021, director of the Department of Aviation of the Ministry of Transport of Belarus Artyom Sikorsky read out an email letter sent to Minsk airport on 23 May. This message was signed by "[[Hamas]] soldiers" and included demands to [[Israel]] to "cease fire in [[Gaza strip]]" and for the European Union to stop the support of Israel. It was threatened to blow up the plane over Vilnius, according to this letter.<ref name=onliner.pressconf2405>{{Cite web|url=https://people.onliner.by/2021/05/24/departament-po-aviacii-zachital-soobshhenie-ob-ugroze-vzryva-samoleta-ryanair|title=Минтранс: сообщение о минировании самолета RyanAir пришло от ХАМАС - Люди Onliner|first=Дарья Спевак, Ольга|last=Прокопьева|date=24 May 2021|website=Onliner}}</ref> [[Chancellor of Germany]] [[Angela Merkel]] called the Belarusian explanation "completely implausible".<ref>{{cite web|title=Angela Merkel says Belarus' story 'completely implausible'|website=Deutsche Welle|date=24 May 2021|url=https://www.dw.com/en/angela-merkel-says-belarus-story-completely-implausible/a-57639025}}</ref> Hamas denied it was in any way connected to the incident.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Belarus points to Hamas bomb threat in plane diversion, Hamas rejects claim|url=https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/1.9839541|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Haaretz.com|language=en}}</ref>

===Sanctions===
On 24 May, the Lithuanian [[Šimonytė Cabinet|cabinet]] decided on a ban of all flights to and from Lithuania flying over the Belarusian airspace, effective 00:00 [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]], 25 May (03:00 [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]).<ref>{{cite web|date=24 May 2021|title=Lithuania bars airport access to carriers flying over Belarus|url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1416413/lithuania-bars-airport-access-to-carriers-flying-over-belarus|website=[[Lithuanian National Radio and Television|LRT]]|accessdate=24 May 2021}}</ref> British transport secretary [[Grant Shapps]] instructed the [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)|Civil Aviation Authority]] to request that British airlines avoid Belarusian airspace. Belarus state airline [[Belavia]]'s permit to operate in UK airspace was suspended.<ref name=ITV240521>{{Cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2021-05-24/uk-condemns-belarus-for-flight-ruse-that-led-to-journalists-arrest-and-threatens-further-sanctions |title=UK tells airlines to avoid Belarusian airspace after flight diversion led to journalist's arrest |publisher=ITV News |accessdate=24 May 2021 }}</ref> Ukrainian president [[Volodymyr Zelensky]] instructed the government to halt air traffic with Belarus.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/zelensky-orders-halt-to-air-traffic-with-belarusv-11431084.html|title=Zelensky orders halt to air traffic with Belarus |work=Unian|date=24 May 2021|access-date= 24 May 2021}}</ref>

===Potential sanctions===
The EU are due to hold a meeting of leaders on 24 May in [[Brussels]], Belgium. Before the meeting, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda called for the EU to impose fresh economic sanctions on Belarus. Calls were made by eight countries for flights over and to Belarus to be banned. Another suggestion was that ground traffic be banned from entering the EU from Belarus.<ref name="BBC57224452">{{cite news|title=Western powers voice outrage as Belarus accused of hijacking plane|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57224452|accessdate=24 May 2021}}</ref><ref name="Reuters240521"/> Belavia could be banned from landing at EU airports.<ref name="RFE31270390"/>

==Reactions==
<!--Per MOS:FLAG, DO NOT ADD flag icons-->
===International===
* [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]] voiced its deep concern over "the apparent forced landing" of the flight. An ICAO tweet claimed that the forced landing could be in breach of the [[Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation]].<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2021-05-24|title=Ryanair 'hijack' to Minsk could have serious consequences for Belarus|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-diversion-hijack-minsk-belarus-b1852406.html|date=23 May 2021|website=[[The Independent]]|author-first=Simon|author-last=Calder}}</ref>
*[[NATO]] Secretary-General [[Jens Stoltenberg]] tweeted that the grounding of the flight constitutes a "serious & dangerous incident which requires international investigation".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sytas |first1=Andrius |last2=Ostroukh |first2=Andrey |title=Belarus forces airliner to land and arrests opponent, sparking U.S. and European outrage |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-forces-vilnius-bound-ryanair-plane-land-detain-blogger-2021-05-23/ |website=Reuters |access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref>

====European Union====
*[[European Commission]] president [[Ursula von der Leyen]] described the incident as "utterly unacceptable", stating that "any violation of international air transport rules must bear consequences."<ref name="FlightGlobal143868"/>

===National===
*Lithuanian President [[Gitanas Nausėda]] accused Belarusian authorities of carrying out an "abhorrent action".<ref name=BBC57219860>{{cite news|date=23 May 2021|title=Belarus 'diverts Ryanair flight to arrest journalist', says opposition|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57219860|work=BBC News}}</ref> He also said: "I call on [[NATO]] and [[EU]] allies to immediately react to the threat posed to international civil aviation by the Belarus regime. The international community must take immediate steps that this does not repeat".<ref>{{cite web|date=23 May 2021|title=Belarus forces Ryanair plane bound for Vilnius to land, infuriating Lithuania|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-forces-vilnius-bound-ryanair-plane-land-detain-blogger-2021-05-23/|website=Reuters}}</ref> Additionally, Lithuanian Prime Minister [[Ingrida Šimonytė]] during her brief press conference in the [[Vilnius Airport]] informed the public that the pre-trial investigation has been started for [[Forced disappearance in Belarus|forced disappearance]] and hijacking of the aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|date=23 May 2021|title=Oro uoste Minske nutupdyto lėktuvo keleivius sutikusi Šimonytė: tai negali likti be atsako|url=https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000153701/oro-uoste-minske-nutupdyto-lektuvo-keleivius-sutikusi-simonyte-tai-negali-likti-be-atsako|website=LRT}}</ref>
*Greek Prime Minister [[Kyriakos Mitsotakis]], from whose country the Ryanair flight originated, described the forced landing of the aircraft as a "shocking act" and that political pressure on Belarus must be stepped up.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1161644/mitsotakis-ryanair-forced-landing-a-shocking-act/|title=Mitsotakis: Ryanair forced landing a 'shocking act'|website=Kathimerini|date=23 May 2021|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref> Greek Foreign Minister [[Nikos Dendias]] described the event as a "states hijack".<ref name=Herald/>
*Latvian Foreign Minister [[Edgars Rinkēvičs]] described the incident as "contrary to international law" and said that the reaction should be "strong and effective".<ref name=BBC57219860/> On 24 May, Latvia expelled Belarus's diplomats in retaliation for Belarus expelling Latvia's staff.<ref name=BBC57233134>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-57233134 |title=Belarus flight stop is an international scandal - EU |publisher=BBC News Online |accessdate=24 May 2021 }}</ref>
* Polish Prime Minister [[Mateusz Morawiecki]] called the incident "an unprecedented act of state terrorism that cannot go unpunished".<ref name=BBC57219860/>
*Irish [[Taoiseach]] [[Micheál Martin]] described the incident as "a state-sponsored coercive act" and "piracy in the skies".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clarke |first1=Vivienne |last2=Leahy |first2=Pat |title=Taoiseach says forced landing of Ryanair flight in Belarus is ‘piracy in the skies’ |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/taoiseach-says-forced-landing-of-ryanair-flight-in-belarus-is-piracy-in-the-skies-1.4573345 |access-date=24 May 2021 |work=The Irish Times |date=24 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
*Chairman of the British [[Foreign Affairs Select Committee|Foreign Affairs Committee]] [[Tom Tugendhat]] said that if it was not an act of war then it was certainly a warlike act.<ref name="Reuters240521">{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/fury-over-state-piracy-west-weighs-action-against-belarus-2021-05-24/ |title=Europeans threaten to limit Belarus air traffic after ‘state piracy’ |first1=Matthias |last1=Williams |first2=Andrius |last2=Sytas |first3=Gabriela |last3=Baczynska |publisher=Reuters |accessdate=24 May 2021 }}</ref> 
*Canada's [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)|Foreign Affairs Minister]], [[Marc Garneau]], said that the incident was "a serious interference in civil aviation and a clear attack on media freedom".<ref name="AP23May21">{{cite web|url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/belarus-arrests-critic-divert-flight-raman-pratasevich-1.6038279|title= Belarus diverts prominent critic's flight, arrests him upon landing|access-date= 15 May 2021|author= The Associated Press|author-link= The Associated Press|work= [[CBC News]]|date= 23 May 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210524002230/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/belarus-arrests-critic-divert-flight-raman-pratasevich-1.6038279|archive-date= 24 May 2021|url-status= live}}</ref>
* US [[Secretary of State]] [[Antony Blinken]] condemned the grounding of the flight as a "brazen and shocking act" and demanded an international investigation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sytas |first1=Andrius |last2=Ostroukh |first2=Andrey |title=Belarus forces airliner to land and arrests opponent, sparking U.S. and European outrage |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-forces-vilnius-bound-ryanair-plane-land-detain-blogger-2021-05-23/ |website=Reuters |access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref> There were American citizens onboard the flight.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ateba|first=Simon|title=Biden admin condemns diversion of Ryanair flight to Belarus to arrest journalist Raman Pratasevich, says the lives of American citizens were endangered • Today News Africa|url=https://todaynewsafrica.com/biden-admin-condemns-diversion-of-ryanair-flight-to-belarus-to-arrest-journalist-raman-pratasevich-says-the-lives-of-american-citizens-were-endangered/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=todaynewsafrica.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
*Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman [[Maria Zakharova]] compared incident to the [[Evo Morales grounding incident|grounding]] of [[Bolivia]]n President [[Evo Morales]]' plane in Austria in 2013 during the hunt for NSA whistleblower [[Edward Snowden]] after other European countries refused it permission to refuel or to use their airspace.<ref>{{cite news |title=West weighs action after Belarus diverts plane, arrests reporter |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/24/rift-between-belarus-and-west-grows-after-plane-hijacking |work=Al-Jazeera |date=24 May 2021}}</ref>
*Dutch caretaker Prime Minister [[Mark Rutte]] condemned the "unacceptable and unprecedented" attack.<ref name=Dutchnews240521>{{cite web |url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/05/dutch-pm-joins-condemnation-of-ryanair-hijack-klm-continues-flights/ |title= Dutch PM joins condemnation of Ryanair ‘hijack’, KLM continues flights |publisher=Dutch News |accessdate=24 May 2021 }}</ref>

===Aviation and international lawyers===
* Ryanair [[chief executive officer|CEO]] [[Michael O'Leary (businessman)|Michael O'Leary]] stated that the event was a "state sponsored hijacking" and that Ryanair believes "there were some [[State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus|[Belarusian] KGB]] agents offloaded at the airport as well".<ref name=RFE31270390>{{cite web |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-western-outrage-airliner-hijacking/31270390.html |title=Belarus Faces Western Outrage Over Airliner 'Hijacking' To Detain Journalist |publisher=Radio Free Europe |accessdate=24 May 2021 }}</ref><ref name="BBC57224452"/>
* Ukrainian [[Aviation law|aviation lawyer]] Andriy Huk suggested that the interception by the military aircraft and redirection of the plane to a more distant airport could have jeopardized the safety of the passengers and crew. He also noted that Appendix 2 of [[Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation|Chicago Convention]] considers interception of civilian planes by military aircraft a very last resort, but the Belarusian military jet took off immediately.<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 May 2021|title=Самолет Ryanair над Беларусью развернули - его сопроводил в Минск истребитель|url=https://www.avianews.com/incidents/2021/05/23/ryanair_plane_diverted_to_minsk/}}</ref>
*Associate professor at the Russian [[Higher School of Economics]] Gleb Bogush stated that the staging (dramatizing) of a bomb threat and the interception of the plane by the Belarusian authorities could have jeopardized the passengers and crew and that both the Chicago Convention and [[Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation|1971 Montreal Convention]] should be used in the legal assessment of the case. He also called the situation "a very dangerous precedent".<ref>{{Cite web|title=В Белоруссии задержан экс-главред Nexta. Самолет, в котором он летел, совершил экстренную посадку в Минске|url=https://www.bfm.ru/news/472690|website=BFM.ru - деловой портал}}</ref>

===Airline===
<!--Alphabetically by country-->*On 24 May, Hungarian airline [[Wizz Air]] rerouted a flight from [[Kyiv]], Ukraine, to [[Tallinn]], Estonia, to avoid Belarusian airspace.<ref name=Marketwatch11621855330>{{cite web |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/airlines-reroute-flights-to-avoid-belarus-after-forced-landing-11621855330?mod=home-page |title=Airlines reroute flights to avoid Belarus after forced landing |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |work=Market Watch |first=Benjamin |last=Katz |accessdate=24 May 2021 }}</ref>
*Latvian airline [[AirBaltic]] announced on 24 May that it would no longer fly in Belarusian airspace until the situation became clearer.<ref name=Reuters240521/><ref name=Marketwatch11621855330/> 
*Dutch airline [[KLM]] stated that it was not making any changes following a risk assessment.<ref name=Reuters240521/>
*[[Scandinavian Airlines]] (SAS) announced that in line with instructions from the [[Swedish Transport Agency]], the twice weekly flight between [[Oslo, Norway|Oslo]], Norway and Kyiv would be rerouted to avoid Belarusian air space.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/24/europe/belarus-ryanair-flight-raman-pratasevich-hijacking-intl/index.html |title=Belarus accused of 'state-sponsored piracy' as fury mounts over diversion of Ryanair flight. |publisher=CNN.com |first=Sheena |last=McKensie |accessdate=24 May 2021 }}</ref>

==Aircraft==
The aircraft involved was a four-year-old Boeing 737-800, registered in Poland, [[aircraft registration|registration]] SP-RSM.<ref name=FlightGlobal143868>{{Cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/political-leaders-outraged-as-belarus-forces-ryanair-737-diversion-to-minsk/143868.article |title=Political leaders outraged as Belarus 'forces' Ryanair 737 diversion to Minsk |first=David |last=Kaminski-Morrow |publisher=Flight Global |accessdate=23 May 2021}}</ref> The aircraft, entered service with Ryanair in May 2017 registered EI-FZX in Ireland, and was transferred to [[Buzz (Ryanair)|Ryanair Sun]] on the Polish aircraft registry as SP-RSM in November 2019.<ref name=Jetphotos>{{cite web |url=https://www.jetphotos.com/info/737-44791 |title= SP-RSM Boeing 737-8AS - 44791, operated by Ryanair Sun |publisher=Jetphotos |accessdate=24 May 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation]]
*[[Extraordinary rendition]]
<!-- The [[Evo Morales grounding incident]] is already link in the body of the article-->

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ryanair}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 2021}}

[[Category:2021 in Belarus]]
[[Category:2021 in international relations]]
[[Category:2020s in Minsk]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 737 Next Generation]]
[[Category:Alexander Lukashenko]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2021]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Belarus]]
[[Category:May 2021 events in Europe]]
[[Category:Ryanair|4978]]
[[Category:Belarus–Lithuania relations]]
[[Category:Belarus–Greece relations]]
[[Category:Belarus–European Union relations]]
[[Category:Diplomatic incidents]]
[[Category:Intelligence operations]]
[[Category:2020 Belarusian protests]]
[[Category:KGB of Belarus]]