The Ukrainian authorities returned the Belarusian plane to Kiev, threatening to raise the fighters, said the Belarusian «Belavia» airlines.

‘The Boeing 737-800 aircraft (tail number EW-456PA) «Belavia «, carrying out a flight on the route V2-840 Zhulyany (Kiev) - Minsk, was forced to return to the airport of departure. On board there were 136 passengers and six crew members,’ says the statement of the airlines.

The «Belavia» explained that, 50 kilometers before entering the airspace of Belarus, the aircraft commander had been instructed by the dispatcher to immediately return to the airport of departure, no reasons given.

‘It was also stated that in case of default commands, fighters would be raised in the air. The aircraft commander performed the command and, at 15.37, proceeded to reduce the altitude,’ noted the «Belavia».

After landing, the law enforcers took an Armenian citizen from the board of the airliner. After refueling, the flight V2-840 took off and landed safely in Minsk at 17.33. The report notes that the detained passenger was soon released and flew to Minsk by another flight.

The «Belavia» announced that it would charge the «UkrAeroRuch» with a reimbursement of expenses related to the return of the aircraft to the «Zhulyany» airport.