You're reading: Express.co.uk: Ukraine threatened to scramble jets to passenger plane over fears of spy on board

The Minsk-bound Belavia 737-800 obeyed an order to turn around and return to Kiev when it was just 30 miles – less than four minutes – from the Belarus border.

The incident has led to a diplomatic spat between ex-Soviet states Belarus and Ukraine, but also to apparent red faces in Kiev.

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