The U.S. Embassy in Slovakia is not aware of any aircraft operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) at Bratislava’s airport, embassy spokesman Keith Hughes told the TASR newswire on March 10.
Hughes was responding to allegations in first reported on the JOJ television station that a CIA aircraft is being kept at the airport.
"According to our information, the aircraft in question is a commercial charter airplane. We have no more information available," he said.
According to sources allegedly close to the airport, the Joj.sk website reported that the aircraft has been hidden between the airport's hangars for several weeks. The Boeing 737-300, which lacks any airline markings, has not been in the air recently, as it is a standby aircraft to be used only in emergency cases.
The site continued that all airport staff are kept away from the plane, as it can only be boarded by an unnamed American citizen. Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) spokesman Karol Sorby has refused to comment on the matter. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
