Vietnamese airliner violates Russian airspace -defense ministry

MOSCOW, July 12 (RIA Novosti) - A spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said a Vietnamese airliner had violated Russia's airspace Tuesday but eventually landed in Moscow.

A Hang Khong Vietnam Boeing-777-200 was flying from Hanoi to Moscow's Domodedovo airport. The source said this "had not been included in the flight schedule by the Russian main center for planning and regulating air traffic."

The Russian air defense authorities called it an intruder and attempted to stop it crossing the Russian border.

The Defense Ministry source said that in accordance with national legislation air defense authorities in the Samara regional center had been ordered to ensure the airliner left Russian airspace.

However, the authorities in Samara did not obey the order, which meant the airliner continued its flight and landed in Moscow.