UK Airlines Told Not to Fly Over Belarus Following Flight Diversion Incident

British Airways planes at Heathrow Airport, west London on May 17, 2021. Steve Parsons/PA

The UK government has asked airlines to avoid Belarusian airspace following an incident on Sunday during which an Irish passenger aircraft was diverted to land in the Belarus capital of Minsk over a bomb alert and a dissident was arrested.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapp said he has instructed the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) to make the request to airlines.