Open Skies plane stuck in Chita preparing to take off
CHITA. Nov 1 (Interfax) - The crew of a U.S. Boeing aircraft heading for Ulan-Ude on an Open Skies Treaty mission, which had to land in Chita due to adversary weather conditions on October 30, is currently preparing for takeoff.
"The crew is now preparing to take off. The fog in Ulan-Ude has cleared up and the weather has improved," a Chita airport spokesman told Interfax on Friday.
The aircraft was not allowed to resume its flight for two days because the payment for fuel did not reach the suppliers' accounts, he said.
The plane was cleared for takeoff as soon as all the financial matters were settled, he added.
The U.S. Boeing aircraft en route to Ulan-Ude on an Open Skies Treaty mission with 30 foreign citizens onboard was forced to land in Chita due to heavy fog.
The Open Skies Treaty was signed in 1992, and all its 34 signatories ratified it in 1995. The treaty is designed to promote observation of existing or future arms control agreements and expand opportunities to prevent and regulate crises within the framework of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.