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The Ukrainian authorities forced a Belavia passenger jet en route from Kyiv to Minsk to return to the Zhuliany airport in Kyiv under the threat of scrambling fighters on Saturday.

According to Interfax agency the captain received a command from the Kyiv district air traffic control center belonging to the Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise to immediately return to the departure airport without any explanations. It was also said that, in the event of disobedience, fighters would be scrambled," Belavia said in a statement.

Immediately after the plane landed, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies escorted one of its passengers, a citizen of Armenia, off the plane.

After refueling, the aircraft departed Kyiv and safely landed at the Minsk airport at 5:33 p.m.

As for the passenger removed from the aircraft, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies later freed him, and he flew to Minsk on board another Belavia flight.

The airline's management also apologized to the passengers for any inconvenience caused by the incident.

Meanwhile, charge d’affaires of Ukraine to Belarus Valery Dzhigun was summoned to the foreign Ministry of Belarus because of the incident with the plane “Belavia”, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Saturday.
It is noted that during a meeting at the foreign ministry the head of the Ukrainian Embassy was presented a note of protest in connection with the forced return of the Belarusian plane “Belavia”.

“During a meeting at the Foreign Ministry, the head of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission was given a note, in which the Belarusian side protested against Ukraine’s actions to return by force a Belarusian plane of the Belavia Company, which made B2 840 regular flight from Kiev to Minsk,” the Foreign Ministry said.