US-Russia spy swap at VIE

Right, thanks for the info.

We all know what the medias definition of “runway” is. 🙂

Indeed; the media would probably classify the M25 as a runway at LHR!:D

Interesting…is this an Austria specific rule?

I don’t think its Austria specific Kabir, as far as I am aware its relevant all over the world.

You do not “officially” enter a country until you have passed through immigration and customs…same thing applies for all those people that transit through a country when connecting onto a flight…you get off one plane, go through security and board your next plane, but you do not officially enter the country because you do not pass through immigration and customs.

There are exceptions to this rule, say for example if you have booked a separate ticket with two different airlines and you have to collect your baggage and check-in again with the other airline you will then have to “officially” land yourself by passing through immigration and customs in order to get to the other airlines check-in counters.

If you head anywhere via USA you are forced to enter the country “officially”, whether you like it or not, because they no longer offer a TWOV option.

The transfer of personnel on the tarmac would mean that entry into Austria is not required and therefore its a direct USA to Russia flight with no passport or immigration formalities.

Interesting…is this an Austria specific rule?

We all know what the medias definition of “runway” is. 🙂

Not at all surprised they didn’t use Air Force aircraft as this was a government operation, not a military one. By the colour scheme it looks as though the Yak42 is one of the MCHS (Ministry of Emergency Situation fleet).

The transfer of personnel on the tarmac would mean that entry into Austria is not required and therefore its a direct USA to Russia flight with no passport or immigration formalities.

Wonder whether the Chapman girl will get a leading role in the next Bond film. Book me a seat!

Did anyone follow this? Surprising that neither US or Russia sent their respective Air Force aircraft for this ‘mission’?

A Vision Airlines B767 was used by the Americans and a presumably chartered Yak 42 was used by the Russians (or was it a Russian AF aircraft?)

Also in the following BBC article

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10564994.stm

this sentence caught my eye

any explanation for what this means?

I believe when you land at an airport, you are actually not “officially” in the country. You are like on no mans land and you would have to go through security and customs before actually being classed as being in that country.

I’m not fully sure about that, I heard it once. Oh and the USA plane went onto an RAF base in the UK, I believe it was Brize Norton.