The transcript, which Reuters could not independently verify, differs from excerpts previously released by Belarus state TV, which had attributed some of the pilot's remarks to the controller. Britain also said it was banning Belarusian airlines from entering its airspace. Lufthansa, KLM, SAS, Air France, LOT and Singapore Airlines were among carriers that announced they would stop flying over Belarus. EU leaders also directed officials to draw up unspecified new sanctions against Belarus, and to work out a way to ban Belarusian airlines from the bloc's skies. Belarus's neighbour, Ukraine, announced a ban on flights to or from Belarus, and on its own airlines using Belarusian airspace.

Source: dna May 25, 2021 17:48 UTC