VIENNA — Former Bolivian president Evo Morales is stranded at Vienna International Airport after five EU nations refused to grant overflight clearance to his presidential jet, forcing the aircraft to abort a flight to La Paz mid-route. Morales was traveling on a Bolivian government aircraft bearing diplomatic credentials when France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal denied flyover rights within a 90-minute window.
The incident — described by Bolivia’s foreign ministry as “a hostile act against a former head of state” — triggered an emergency session of the Bolivian Congress. Morales was returning from a regional tour of Venezuela and Nicaragua. Austria’s foreign ministry confirmed Morales is “in communication with his country’s diplomats” but gave no timeline for resolution.
EU officials said the ban stems from an outstanding International Criminal Court notice related to Morales’ tenure as president — a claim Bolivia’s government denies as “fabricated.”
Written by Diego Vargas, Latin America Correspondent