Polish Boeing 737 MAX Accidentally Crosses Ukrainian Airspace on its Way to Turkey

Enter Air, a Polish airline, confirmed that one of its Boeing 737 MAX jets unintentionally entered Ukrainian airspace while traveling from Poznań to Antalya, Turkey on June 23, 2023. The aircraft, flight E44665, briefly flew approximately 20 kilometers into Ukraine before re-entering its designated route. The incident occurred while the plane was avoiding adverse weather conditions over Europe, and the airline asserts that all safety procedures were followed.

Details: According to reliable sources like TVN24, the incident took place at 5:20 pm as the Boeing 737 MAX was in radio contact with air traffic controllers in Bratislava, Slovakia. The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) issued a statement explaining that the aircraft’s detour into Ukrainian airspace occurred during a period of storm fronts in the region.

Investigation: To thoroughly assess the circumstances surrounding the event, the State Commission for Investigation of Aircraft Accident will conduct an inquiry. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Authority of Poland is also looking into the matter.

Significance: Ukraine’s airspace has been off-limits to civilian flights since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022. As a result, this incident holds particular importance, and authorities are keen on understanding how and why the aircraft ended up briefly crossing into restricted airspace during its flight.