I Don't Believe Tajik Pilots Hijacked the Boeing Aircraft: Hakob Jagharyan

Former advisor to the Prime Minister and aviator Hakob Jagharyan wrote on his Facebook page:

“Hijacking of the Plane? Deception? Or Deliberate Incompetence? Directly 10 days ago, on the night of February 22, I made a post about the mysterious appearance of a Boeing 737-300 aircraft, registered under EK-FAA and belonging to the Armenian airline Fly Armenia, in Tehran. I raised the aforementioned three questions:

What was this? A hijacking? A fraud? Or professional incompetence? Furthermore, I received information about the possible hijacking of the aircraft the Sunday evening prior to my post. It took me just 30-35 minutes to discover the aircraft, its registration number, the operating airline, and the details of its route. I won’t elaborate on how. Vahé Sarukhanyan from the Hetq news agency had previously presented his personal investigation in detail and reached the same conclusion with absolute precision. It should be emphasized that reporter Vahé Sarukhanyan is not an aviation authority's security inspector.

Following my post, the following day the Civil Aviation Committee issued a statement that ‘...we have not received information about a hijacking from the relevant authorities...’ Who are those RESPONSIBLE BODIES if not you? Today, the same Civil Aviation Committee has issued a statement that I would be ashamed to qualify. According to the committee’s explanation, it turns out that Tajik pilots hijacked the aircraft. I don't believe it. A pilot does not choose a flight path without a pre-approved plan from the airline. The preliminary plan is provided, permissions for the use of airspace of transit countries and the airport of landing are requested 2-3 days in advance (according to country requirements). Therefore, the Tallinn-Varna flight was prepared at least 2 days before it was to be executed. Moreover, the pilots begin their work just 1-1.5 hours before the flight. They are already given flight execution plans based on previously requested and received permissions. Don’t you know who provided the plan and what route they took?

Emphasizing: the pilots' flight licenses were validated by the Civil Aviation Committee of the Republic of Armenia '...in accordance with the law...' The same applies to the Varna-Tehran flight. Especially regarding that section. The flight was conducted: a) through Turkish airspace; b) according to the Civil Aviation Committee information, '...has taken a direction towards Sharjah in the Emirates...' Question 1. Tajik pilots spent the night in Varna on February 19. When did the operating company and the proud 'aviation authorities' learn about this? After my post? Question 2. How many days does it take to obtain permission to fly over Turkey? Don’t say that the Tajik hijacker-pilots came to the airport, sketched a flight plan, and took off without waiting, entering Turkish airspace and crossing the entire length of the country unobstructed. Question 3. How did they 'take a direction towards Sharjah in the Emirates...' Without the presence of an IOSA audit (one of the most prestigious international audits), the Emirates' airspace is closed to aircraft registered in Armenia. Does Fly Armenia have such an audit? Or at least special permission for a technical landing? If so, show it. If not, show its fake copy that was presented at Varna airport for flight authorization. It turned out lengthy. I will write more; you won’t read it:

- 'Problems with the oil' (according to the Civil Aviation Committee's announcement),

- the existing technical condition of the aircraft (also according to the Civil Aviation Committee's announcement),

- the involvement of the Iranian side in the assurance of the aircraft’s technical condition (if perhaps they had it),

- the responsibilities of the Armenian aviation authorities (according to the Law on Aviation and the Statute of the Civil Aviation Committee),

- the involvement of the Civil Aviation Committee in all this (this needs to be clarified by the NSS), and other questions I will detail in the next part of the series. Good night, my 'proud' compatriots.”