I just learned that Polish pilots flying our president had trouble with understanding air traffic controllers who ignored international protocol and instead of English used Russian.
Air Traffic Controller interview transcript:
What did the conversation with the crew looked like?- I suggested landing on a substitute airport. They didn’t agree to that.
Did you suggest that to them?- Yes.
For what reason?- I noticed that the weather was getting worse.
How did they respond?- They responded: We have enough fuel, we’ll approach, and if unsuccessful we’ll proceed to another airport.
Allegedly there were suggestions to land in other cities?- Yes, I also suggested that.
Why did he/they refuse?- He [the pilot] should be asked that.
Why did they made that decision? Did they argue, were they that stubborn that you were not able to convince them otherwise?- This decision was made by the head pilot.
What took place next? He said that he will circle one more time and will land at another airport?- No, he said that if he doesn’t land, he will fly to the secondary airport.
And what did you do?- Just like I said. I can’t say anything else.
But what happened next? Did you loose communication?- No. Why? We were in communications fairly long.
What did they say?- They were discussing my instructions. In the beginning they informed me [acknowledged], than they stopped.
They stopped listening to your instructions?- They were to acknowledge, and didn’t do that.
What kind of instructions?- Regarding the altitude during the landing attempt.
You didn’t get this information?- No.
Did it have to do with [any] danger?- Communications (with the crew) is conducted via radio, it wasn’t taking place (in this instance).
Why didn’t they acknowledge?- How could I know? Because they didn’t know Russian well.
There was no one on board who spoke Russian?- There were, but the Russian numbers were like black magic to them.
This means that you didn’t have any information about their altitude?- None.
If I understand this correctly, he approached once again to land, didn’t touch, and flew to the auxiliary airport? Or something else?- No, no, not like that. He made another approach, that’s all. And then began to land.
So he made a landing that you ordered him not to do?- No I couldn’t order him to abort. I recommended to him not to do it.