Pilot gets conscription notice before flight from Ufa, Russia; passengers were asked to leave
UKRAINSKA PRAVDA – FRIDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2022, 18:32
In the Russian city of Ufa, a co-pilot, who was subject to conscription, was taken directly from the plane to the military enlistment office; this effectively delayed the flight to Turkey for nine hours.
Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, citing a local news outlet
Details: According to one of the passengers, the Azur Air flight to Antalya was to depart at 5:20, but an announcement was made over the loudspeaker: "Due to the enlistment and subsequent border crossing ban for the co-pilot, the flight is cancelled. We ask you to leave the plane." As a result, the plane took off at about 14:00.
RFE/RL reports that the airport did not comment on the situation.
Background:
- On 21 September, in an address to Russians, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "partial" mobilisation. Later, it was revealed that there is a secret clause in the mobilisation decree that allows the Russian Ministry of Defence to draft more than a million people, mostly from the villages, to the war against Ukraine.
- On 28 September, it was revealed that the first enlisted Russians had been sent to war against Ukraine.
- On 14 October, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin claimed that 16,000 conscripted reservists are already "performing combat missions" on the territory of Ukraine.
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