Third Airspace Violation In As Many Weeks

Russian Air Traffic Controllers allowed a Vietnam Airlines 777 to land at an airport near Moscow Tuesday -- even though the aircraft was considered an intruder and military authorities ordered it “ejected” from their airspace.

It’s the latest in a dispute between Russian and Vietnamese officials over the weekly Hanoi-to-Moscow flight, one that Vietnamese officials say is a simple paperwork SNAFU.

At issue is a civil aviation permit. Russian military officials say they’ve never seen it. But Vietnam Airlines says that’s not the carrier’s fault.

"Sending the permit to the Ministry of Defense is not the responsibility of either the airport authorities [in Hanoi] or of Vietnam Airlines," a statement from the airline said.  It was quoted by the Associated Press.

Russian fighters and missile batteries went on alert as the Vietnamese jet flew across the border. However, no Russian fighters left the ground as the 777 continued on to Moscow, according to one military official.

It’s certainly a problem the Vietnamese might want to see solved. In 1983, a Korean Air jetliner was shot down by Russian jets as it strayed into Soviet airspace. All 269 people on board were killed.

FMI: www.vietnamair.com