Last edited Thu Jul 4, 2013, 05:55 PM - Edit history (2)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/03/1221091/-Bolivian-Plane-Landed-Due-to-Faulty-Fuel-Gauge
who in turn took it from Atlantic Wire.
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/07/tale-re-routed-bolivian-presidents-plane-falling-apart/66838/ The Atlantic Wire uses various sources including the Guardian.
France and Spain not refusing airspace was AP via Yahoo
http://news.yahoo.com/snowden-case-france-denies-blocking-bolivia-plane-090257428.html as well as the Wire
The Wire article also has a recording of the Bolivian flight's request regarding assistance
Portugal quoted as allowing overflight.
The only diversion rook place over Austria
There was no "search" just the police requesting permission to walk through.
ATC protocols from talking to an ATC at SF conventions a few years ago followed up by simple reading
The tale about Snowden only came from Bolivian sources
I note our full time "revolutionary" Manny has joined in and he will note that the French apologised for any offense given to the Bolivians, which is normal diplomatic speak for "we don't know WTF you are going on about but it won't harm us to be on your good side (plus we have an aversion to the US)"
As an addition for the rabid conspiracy theorists amongst us the French had pre-approved overflight because the flight plan had already been filed and approved. If France had refused overflight then the flight plan would have been different and probably not routed over Austria.
Edited to add that the ATC protocols have also been confirmed by my brother in law who has had a light pilots license for about 20 years.
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