While US and Russian spies were being swapped on a tarmac, the U.S.A. was represented by a private charter jet. The business of Vision Airlines is usually vacation travel, however they got the contract for this flight. There are some politicians asking why a private business was used for government business.
Spies swapped using Vision Airlines
It looked more like a spy movie than a vision from 2010, but a Russian Emergency Ministry plane met up with Vision Airlines on a Vienna tarmac this morning. Fourteen agents switched the planes – ten accused Russian agents and four “Western Sympathizers. Both planes took off, and the biggest post-Cold War era spy drama was (hopefully) over.
Why Vision Airlines got the gig
A few questions have been raised over why the US chose a luxury charter jet instead of an official airplane. Russia had a much more official way of handling the situation. Was the U.S. Government trying to pamper the agents that were being brought back? Were all other planes in the United States already taken? It is very possible that the government agreed that no military planes were to be used on other sides. Either way, the choice of a luxury charter jet to swap spies is an interesting one. One has to wonder if Vision Airlines donated their $ 10,000 plus fee for this trip, or if the U.S. Government is footing the bill. Vision Airlines is certainly getting attention for the choice – their website has crashed multiple times today.
Keeping tepid relations going
The Chief of Staff of the White House has said that “the president was ‘briefed’” on decisions related to the spy swap. Seems like most decisions were carefully made to keep away from as much conflict as possible. Both of the countries have expressed a desire to keep the tepid relations from again turning cold.
