UK says Russian plane search part of normal border procedures

British authorities have rejected Russia’s criticism about searching an Aeroflot passenger plane at London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday, saying it was a routine border inspection action.

Security Minister Ben Wallace said in a statement on Saturday that checking planes at airports are normal to prevent the entry of harmful substances or arms into the United Kingdom.

“It is routine for Border Force to search aircraft to protect the UK from organized crime and from those who attempt to bring harmful substances like drugs or firearms into the country,” said the statement.

Wallace said the Russian passenger plane had no problem to continue its flight after authorities carried out the checks.

“Once these checks were carried out the plane was allowed to carry on with its onward journey,” he said.

PressTV-Russia demands answers over plane search in London

Russia says British authorities have illegally searched a Russian Aeroflot plane at London’s Heathrow airport, describing the incident as a “provocation.”

Russia’s Embassy in Britain said that British authorities had provided no justifications for searching the Aeroflot at Heathrow while calling the action a “provocation” and in breach of international law.

“Border Force and Customs officers have searched the aircraft that was conducting the Aeroflot flights 2582 / 2583, Moscow – London – Moscow. This kind of event is extraordinary,” the embassy said in a statement on Friday.

It added that the incident was in line with London’s provocative moves which have followed the poisoning incident earlier this month of a former Russian spy and his daughter.

“Today, we have witnessed another blatant provocation by the British authorities,” read the embassy statement, urging authorities to provide an explanation for the incident.

The embassy also highlighted the use of force by British authorities to inspect the Russian plane after the captain refused to abandon the vehicle and allow authorities to carry out searches without the presence of the crew.

“The British officials tried to search the aircraft without the crew being present, something categorically prohibited by the rules in force,” said the statement, adding, “After the search was over, the British officers refused to provide any written document that would specify the reasons for their actions, their legal foundation and their outcome.”

London has accused Russian of being behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia on March 4 in the southern English town of Salisbury. Moscow has denied any involvement in the incident, which has sparked serious diplomatic confrontations between Russia and the West, saying it may be a ploy by British intelligence apparatus to add fuel to the general “Russophobia” campaign in the West.

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