RYANAIR CHIEF SAYS BELARUSIAN KGB WERE ON ‘HIJACKED’ PLANE

▶ Opposition journalist’s whereabouts remain unknown after he was taken from diverted flight

Irish airline Ryanair has accused Belarus of having spies on board a passenger flight that was forced to land in Minsk as part of an alleged plot to detain an opposition activist.

The plane, carrying 171 passengers from Greece to Lithuania, was nearing the end of its journey when Belarusian air traffic control told the crew there may be a bomb on board.

A fighter jet was sent to divert the plane to the Belarusian capital, even though it was not the closest airport. When it landed, journalist Roman Protasevich, 26, was arrested.

A passenger on board the aircraft said Protasevich had his head in his hands and was shaking when he realised the flight was being diverted to Minsk.

As he was led away, he reportedly said: “I’ll get the death penalty here.”

Protasevich is wanted in Belarus on extremism charges and allegations of inciting riots, which he denies.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said he believed Belarusian KGB agents were on the flight.

“It is a case of state-sponsored hijacking,” he told Irish radio.

“It appears the intent of the authorities was to remove a journalist and his travelling companion. We believe there were some [Belarusian security agency] KGB agents offloaded at the airport as well.”

Meanwhile, Lithuania said five passengers on the flight did not reach their final destination, further raising suspicions that security service personnel were on board.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday said Russian involvement was a possibility.

“I’ll be careful what I say at this point, because … it’s very difficult to believe that this kind of action could be taken without at least the acquiescence of the authorities in Moscow, but as I say it is unclear as yet,” he said.

Britain said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko should be held to account for his “outlandish actions”.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps instructed Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority to request that airlines avoid Belarusian airspace for passenger safety. He also suspended the operating permit of the Belarus national airline, Belavia.

State media reported that Mr

Lukashenko gave the order to send the warplane. The incident drew condemnation from around the world, with countries demanding the immediate release of the journalist.

The EU called for an international investigation into what it said was a hijacking.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the “outrageous and illegal behaviour” would have consequences.

“Those responsible for the Ryanair

hijacking must be sanctioned,” she said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said President Joe Biden’s team was “co-ordinating with our partners on next steps”.

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said Protasevich’s whereabouts were unknown.

“We still don’t know where he is, and in what state. There is a high probability that he is undergoing torture by the special services at this very minute,” she said.

Protasevich worked for online news service Nexta last year when it covered protests against Mr Lukashenko.

Mr Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, has cracked down on dissenting voices since winning a disputed election last year.

A passenger said Protasevich was shaking when he realised the flight was being diverted to Minsk