Bolivian Defense Minister Saavedra interview regarding FAB 001's Vienna stop
Rubén Saavedra Soto: Nadie requisó el avión FAB 001
El ministro de Defensa relata lo ocurrido en la nave presidencial cuando le bloquearon el vuelo en cuatro países de Europa. Cuenta los detalles de esos momentos tensos en Viena.
http://www.eldeber.com.bo/ruben-saavedra-soto-nadie-requiso-el-avion-fab-001/130706215201
... Many hours before takeoff <from Moscow> the Government of Portugal notified the flight crew we could not land in Lisbon due to technical problems. So Spanish government authorization was obtained to stop in the Canary Islands ... At that time our use of airspace was not restricted. What we could not do was land ... The pilot himself had apparently heard a rumor that Mr Snowden was on-board ... We requested the emergency landing <in Vienna> as a precaution against a possible lack of fuel ... The President meanwhile telephoned the vice president and the chancellor to inform them what was happening ... They asked for our passports; we had no problem displaying them; ... they reviewed them quickly and returned ... After landing, the crew received notification of Portugal and Italy that they had canceled the overflight and landing permits in their territories ... The ambassador did not specifically mention Snowden. Our president said "Look, sir, we are not carrying anybody, not even Mr. Snowden". That unnerved the Spanish diplomat ... His response was confused ... The ambassador returned at 9:30 <AM>; President Morales told him it was all sorted out and thanked him ...