OMM Newsroom
An Air Serbia flight carrying Aleksandar Vulin, a close ally of former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, returned to Belgrade on Tuesday evening after airport authorities requested additional security screening for a passenger, the airline said, according to Anadolu Agency.
Flight JU134 had departed for Moscow but turned back while flying over Lithuania. Air Serbia said the return followed a notification from airport authorities that one passenger required additional security checks.
Serbian media identified the passenger as Vulin, chairman of the supervisory board of state-owned gas company “Srbijagas”. “Srbijagas” Director General Dusan Bajatovic and politician Nenad Popovic were also reportedly on board.
Local media reported that Vulin boarded without completing the required security screening. The airport’s security director reportedly ordered the plane to return after reviewing surveillance footage.
After landing in Belgrade, passengers and their luggage were screened again under police supervision.
Speaking to Serbia’s Informer television, Vulin denied the allegations and called the incident a politically motivated attempt to target him. He said he had completed all required security checks and was not carrying prohibited items.
Vulin said he was travelling to Moscow on official business to discuss extending a gas agreement between Serbia and Russia. The aircraft later resumed its journey and landed in Moscow early Wednesday.
A prominent pro-Russian politician, Vulin served as Serbia’s interior minister, defense minister, director of the Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) and deputy prime minister during Vucic’s presidency. The United States imposed sanctions on him in 2023.
The incident comes amid political changes in Serbia following snap parliamentary elections on Oct. 25. The student-backed electoral list won 52.71% of the vote and 140 seats in the 250-member parliament.
The “Aleksandar Vucic – United Serbia” alliance received 39.17% of the vote and won 104 seats, according to preliminary election results.
