US Air Force Forced down a MD87 (no weapon fire)

Disputed Flying Object
// Sistema's Plane Lands in US

The American television news channel NBC reported yesterday that US Air Force fighter jets intercepted and forced down a McDonnell-Douglas 87 (MD-87) plane on its way to Russia. The aircraft had been purchased by the Russian company Sistema from the American firm M 871 DP LLC.

Sistema spokespersons denied that the liner had been forcibly intercepted.
The incident was the result of accusations from the supplier that Sistema had not paid for the airplane in full. According to the American news media, the Russian company tried to abscond with the airplane on March 24.

After pilots hired by the company ignored a takeoff ban from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and set a course for Canada, US Air Force jets were dispatched to force the airplane to land. Immediately after touching down, the plane was swarmed by border control officers, customs agents, and special FBI antiterrorism units. FBI spokeswoman Monica Shipley reported that the American special forces quickly ascertained that the incident did not pose a threat to US national security.

The company Sistema denied NBC's report. "There was no attempt to run off with the plane and no US Air Force jets were involved. This is an ordinary dispute between participants in a business deal," said Sistema public relations director Irina Potekhina. According to Ms. Potekhina, the dispute has been going on for more than two years. Sistema ordered the MD-87 plane from the American company for $16 million, intending to use it for corporate purposes.

However, the American company violated the terms of the agreement by not equipping the plane with additional fuel tanks, as a result of which the aircraft's range turned out to be less than Sistema had anticipated. The cost of the fuel tanks that were not installed was more than $2 million, which Sistema refused to pay, leading to conflict with the American firm that sold the plane. "Having gotten tired of the argument, last week we set aside a deposit in the disputed amount and decided to bring the plane to Russia, in order to use it at least for short trips to Europe," said Ms. Potekhina.

According to Ms. Potekhina's account, flight plans from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas to Russia, with a planned stopover in Canada, were filed with all of the appropriate agencies, including the American FAA, and the plane was cleared for takeoff.

When it was already airborne, however, the American supplier succeeded in obtaining an injunction from a Delaware court forbidding the plane to fly. The dispatcher notified the crew of the ban, and they landed the plane at the international airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it remains. Ms. Potekhina expressed confidence that once the court receives documents certifying that the disputed sum has been paid, the liner will be cleared to continue its flight to Russia.