3 ms·

Can someone explain why Snowden is going this way instead of going over the Pacific to Venezuela?

by w1ntermute 13y ago

sp332 13y ago
This way he can parachute out over Iceland :)
- anonymfus 13y ago
  Relevant scene from animated Russian movie "Adventures of Captain Vrungel " (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventures_of_Captain_Vrungel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventures_of_Captain_Vrungel ): http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLA7BBF44483CF238E&v=P0DK1LghwZc&t=404s http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLA7BBF44483CF238E&v=P0DK1...
_ak 13y ago
Lack of available flights? Flights from East Asia and Oceania to the Americas are relatively rare and expensive compared to going the other way via Europe.
- raverbashing 13y ago
  Exactly There's probably zero flights that go from Asia to Venezuela directly. Maybe through Australia and Chile exists a possibility
  - rdouble 13y ago
    There aren't any direct flights from Moscow to Venezuela, either. He either has to stop somewhere in Europe or Miami.
    - raverbashing 13y ago
      It's longer through Asia. http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=HKG-SYD-SCL-CCS,HKG-DME-HAV-CCS http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=HKG-SYD-SCL-CCS,HKG-DME-HAV-CCS There's of course SYD-LAX but due to the circumstances...
1337biz 13y ago
Plus why didn't they charter a plane? I'm sure Russia has quite a few rusty Tupolevs standing around and pilots that can probably even fly blindfolded the route to Havana. But maybe the idea is some form of human-shield and protection against unhappy "accidents" by relying on regular passenger flights.
- wavefunction 13y ago
  The Pacific can be pretty stormy and also lonely this time of year. Plus, a plane with Snowden and a few "incidentals" is a easier to justify politically than Snowden and a hundred civilians from various countries. I mean, wouldn't that be what terrorists do?
- danenania 13y ago
  This is a smart move. There is no way the US will use force against a passenger plane just to get Snowden, so the pilot can safely ignore any US demands and continue on to Havana regardless of air space and threats, though it will take guts. Perhaps there will be a last minute shift change and a GRU pilot will end up in the cockpit.
WildUtah 13y ago
There are only two commercial flights between Asia and Latin America. One flys between Mexico City and, on alternate trips, Shanghai or Tokyo. The other is between Dubai and Sāo Paulo. The Mexican flight crosses a lot of US airspace. Everything else requires stops in North America or Europe.

Can someone explain why Snowden is going this way instead of going over the Pacific to Venezuela?

sp332 13y ago

This way he can parachute out over Iceland :)

anonymfus 13y ago
Relevant scene from animated Russian movie "Adventures of Captain Vrungel " (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventures_of_Captain_Vrungel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventures_of_Captain_Vrungel ): http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLA7BBF44483CF238E&v=P0DK1LghwZc&t=404s http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLA7BBF44483CF238E&v=P0DK1...

_ak 13y ago

Lack of available flights? Flights from East Asia and Oceania to the Americas are relatively rare and expensive compared to going the other way via Europe.

raverbashing 13y ago
Exactly There's probably zero flights that go from Asia to Venezuela directly. Maybe through Australia and Chile exists a possibility
- rdouble 13y ago
  There aren't any direct flights from Moscow to Venezuela, either. He either has to stop somewhere in Europe or Miami.
  - raverbashing 13y ago
    It's longer through Asia. http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=HKG-SYD-SCL-CCS,HKG-DME-HAV-CCS http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=HKG-SYD-SCL-CCS,HKG-DME-HAV-CCS There's of course SYD-LAX but due to the circumstances...

1337biz 13y ago

Plus why didn't they charter a plane? I'm sure Russia has quite a few rusty Tupolevs standing around and pilots that can probably even fly blindfolded the route to Havana. But maybe the idea is some form of human-shield and protection against unhappy "accidents" by relying on regular passenger flights.

wavefunction 13y ago
The Pacific can be pretty stormy and also lonely this time of year. Plus, a plane with Snowden and a few "incidentals" is a easier to justify politically than Snowden and a hundred civilians from various countries. I mean, wouldn't that be what terrorists do?
danenania 13y ago
This is a smart move. There is no way the US will use force against a passenger plane just to get Snowden, so the pilot can safely ignore any US demands and continue on to Havana regardless of air space and threats, though it will take guts. Perhaps there will be a last minute shift change and a GRU pilot will end up in the cockpit.

WildUtah 13y ago

There are only two commercial flights between Asia and Latin America. One flys between Mexico City and, on alternate trips, Shanghai or Tokyo. The other is between Dubai and Sāo Paulo. The Mexican flight crosses a lot of US airspace. Everything else requires stops in North America or Europe.