[vrepsys]

According to The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/03/edward-snowden-a...): 1.05am BST Associated Press has published extracts from a statement issued by the Bolivian defence minister, Ruben Saavedra, who was also on the redirected plane.

It says the plane was allowed to land in Spain for refueling before flying on to Austria.

It describes the rerouting as a "hostile act" by the US goverment: This is a hostile act by the United States State Department which has used various European governments"

[mpyne]

I get that the defense minister was saying the plane was re-routed because of Snowden... but the pilot seemed to indicate it was a fuel indication issue. Would he be in on the conspiracy? Is this transcript from a different flight perhaps?

I don't know what went on exactly but all that re-routing a plane with Snowden on it does for the U.S. is... nothing, really. It's not like they're going to stop them from going to Bolivia, and some kind of blackbag shenanigans while the plane refuels on the runway would lead to much more international outcry than I think either Obama or Kerry would want to accept.

Even if we assume some kind of Darth Obama type nonsense I just don't see where this would have any upside for the U.S., which makes it seem a little implausible... even Obama has to be smarter than that.

Edit: As far as the transcript the possibility would make sense if it was a charter flight and not a Bolivian aircrew. It would still be quite insane for the U.S. to ask for that or any of the countries to participate though.

[WildUtah]

1. Austria is not on the way from Spain to Bolivia by any plausible charter routing.

2. Portugal and France don't control airspace needed to fly from Spain to Bolivia. Neither do they control airspace needed or very desirable to fly between Austria and Bolivia.

3. Therefore what we are hearing now is not likely to be the real story.

[gaadd33]

For a flight from Moscow to Bolivia with a refueling stop in Lisbon, it appears that the great circle route takes you through Spain and France. From Austria it appears as if traversing France is the best route too.

Are there strong jet streams or something which would cause it to choose a different route?