Radioactive cobalt in luggage hold delays Finnair flight from Moscow
Political "bullying" seen behind move by Russian officials
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Passengers on a Finnair flight leaving from Moscow to Helsinki had to wait for about four hours at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on Saturday as Russian officials took radiation readings in the front of the plane’s passenger cabin.
Finnair reported late Saturday that elevated radiation readings had been caused by cobalt, which was being transported in the front of the luggage hold for industrial use. The package was en route from Germany via Helsinki to Moscow.
Finnair says that radiation readings had been taken four times in Moscow.
The first measurements were taken when the cargo was still inside the plane. At that time, the equipment showed a degree of radiation that exceeded normal levels. On three other occasions, when the cargo had been taken out, no more radiation was detected.
Finnair said that this was the first time that any such measurements were being taken. Russia had announced already on Thursday that it was imposing a stricter policy on radiation monitoring for foreign planes.
Finnair Communications Officer Taneli Hassinen says that all planes in Moscow had undergone radiation measurements.
The 61 Finnair passengers on the plane were flown to Helsinki on an Aeroflot flight. The Finnair plane flew later with only passenger luggage on board. Hassinen and Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) inspector Teuvo Parviainen said that passengers had not been in any danger from the radiation.
STUK does not plan to place the passengers under close monitoring. However, Hassinen says that Finnair will be in contact with passengers from the Helsinki-Moscow leg to assure them that the radiation posed no danger.
One of the passengers was Harri Cavén, a high-ranking official at the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications, who had been in Moscow on Friday to negotiate with Russian road transport officials.
"The plane was getting ready for takeoff when it was turned back. The flight attendant said that the plane and the passengers would undergo a radiation check. We were met at the airport by officials wearing rubber gloves. However, no radiation readings were taken from us", Cavén said.
In his view, delaying the departure was "bullying" on the part of Russian officials. Cavén said that the reason for the action was that some at the recent EU-Russia summit had "the audacity to criticise President Vladimir Putin over the murder of Alexander Litvinenko".
The atmosphere at the airport in the early evening did not differ much from the normal. Some of the officials knew that the departure of the Finnair flight had been delayed because of the inspections. Andrei Bagrationov, a security official at the airport, told the Associated Press that no traces of radioactivity were found on the plane.
According to Taneli Hassinen, the sender of the package delivered by Finnair on Saturday is known, and is familiar with packaging regulations for radioactive substances.
"These packages are transported on many flights and on all airlines every day. Our cargo monitors inspect the packages and papers of deliveries of dangerous substances, and we were told that there was nothing exceptional in the package.
He had not heard if other planes had been stopped in Moscow because of radiation.
On Saturday, Minister of Transport and Communications Susanna Huovinen (SDP) asked Finnair for a clarification of matters concerning the transport of hazardous materials.
Air transport of radioactive substances is permitted, as long as safety regulations are met. Hospitals and industry use radioactive materials regularly. Fast transport is essential because the isotopes often have a short half-life.
On Sunday, Finnair’s Taneli Hassinen reiterated that Finland does not plan to cut back on the transport of radioactive materials, in spite of the problems that arose at Moscow Airport.
"Even if increased levels of radiation were to be found, it would be unlikely to cause the same kind of uproar that happened this time."
Finnair’s flights on Sunday proceeded without problems. Radiation levels continued to be monitored at Moscow Airport.
However, Finnair did not have any radioactive cargo on Sunday.
Finnair did not incur any great financial losses from Saturday’s delay in Moscow.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 4.12.2006 - TODAY |
 Radioactive cobalt in luggage hold delays Finnair flight from Moscow
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