Moscow concerned by threat to lives of passengers from Syrian plane intercepted by Turkey
MOSCOW. Oct 11 (Interfax) - Moscow was concerned to learn that the lives and security of passengers on board a Syrian passenger plane heading for Damascus from Moscow, among them Russian citizens, were endangered when Turkish Air Force fighters forced it to land on Wednesday, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
"We are concerned that the lives and security of the passengers, among them 17 Russian citizens, were endangered in this extraordinary situation," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a commentary published on the ministry's website on Wednesday.
"Turkey did not inform the Russian Embassy in Ankara that Russian citizens were among the passengers of the suspended flight. We learned about this from electronic media outlets," he said.
It was reported earlier that Turkish Air Force fighters forced a Syrian passenger plane heading for Damascus from Moscow to land in Ankara on Wednesday evening. Different reports said the plane was carrying from 25 to 35 passengers.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the plane was forced to land to inspect what it was carrying on board, saying that some information indicated that the plane might have been carrying cargo violating civil aviation regulations.
Turkish media reported later that communication equipment, radio receivers, and jamming stations had been found on board the plane. These items were confiscated, after which the plane was allowed to continue its flight.
