How did a private plane carrying Russian citizens manage to land in Canada despite the fact that Russians are barred from entering the country’s airspace?
On Tuesday of this week, a charter plane carrying Russian citizens touched down at Yellowknife International Airport in northern Canada. Because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Canada has barred all Russian aircraft from entering Canadian airspace, effective immediately. What is going to happen now?
A private plane carrying Russian passengers was forced to land at Yellowknife International Airport in Canada.
All Russian-owned, -operated, or -chartered aircraft have been barred from entering or departing Canadian airspace as of Sunday. On March 1st, at 10:52 a.m. local time, a private airplane took off from Geneva (GVA). The plane, a Dassault Falcon 900EX, was on its way to Yellowknife (YZF) in Canada when it made its landing at 11:59 a.m. local time.
Apparently, Transport Canada was unaware that two Russian nationals were on board the aircraft at the time of takeoff. In Austria, the aircraft is registered to International Jet Management, which operates the aircraft.
It was not until the Canadian border agency arrived at Yellowknife International Airport and established that the jet was carrying Russian people that any red flags were raised. – Diane Archie, Minister of Infrastructure for the Northwest Territories
It was discussed during a meeting of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly (NWT) on Thursday, during which the event involving the Russian nationals was brought up for discussion. Diane Archie, Minister of Infrastructure for the Northwest Territories, said
When it came to engaging with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation or Tch, I was disappointed, but I’m optimistic that they at the very least reached out to them when they were granted access to their traditional area.
It is important to note that when Archie refers to the ‘Yellowknives Dene First Nation or Tch’, she is referring to Indigenous peoples in Canada who are neither Métis or Inuit in origin. Native Americans, also known as First Nations people, are the original residents of the region that is now known as Canada.