MOSCOW, Nov. 19 (UPI) — Russia’s government sought an explanation after Swiss fighter jets flew alongside a government airliner on its way to Peru.
The Russian embassy in Switzerland shared a photo of one of the jets flying alongside the airliner as they requested clarification for the act.
“[We] have expressed bewilderment and asked for explanations from Switzerland,” the tweet read.
The plane was carrying a group of journalists along with members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official delegation to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Peru, TASS reported.
Passengers took notice of the Swiss fighter jets, but flight attendants explained the escort was previously agreed to and it is routine practice in certain air routes.
“The Swiss have long been escorting special flights in their airspace, and there is nothing extraordinary about it,” the Russian airliner’s captain said. “We are regularly accompanied by planes of the country’s Air Force while on this route.”
Chairman of Russia’s Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev demanded further clarification from the Swiss government on Saturday.
“Now we should demand firmly and inflexibly full clarification of the incident from the Swiss authorities, and after receiving these explanations we should define our further actions,” he said.
Kosachev also cited a similar incident in which Swiss fighter jets approached a plane escorting Russian government members to a session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva.
“Owing to these two episodes, we can say that they are not accidental, but form a certain system of action,” he said. “It is hard for me even to imagine for what purposes this system has been organized as it does not make sense for Switzerland, as a neutral country, to show off military muscle. Moreover, when the plane has all the required letters and fly along a given route with a pre-declared destination.”
