PM Gruevski Safe After Macedonian Govt Plane Makes Emergency Landing

The Macedonian government plane carrying Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski to Skopje from Strasbourg has made an emergency landing in Zurich over an unspecified malfunction, MIA news agency reported on Thursday.

The prime minister and the other passengers on board are safe, MIA quoted government spokesman Aleksandar Gjorgiev as saying.

Gruevski  was returning to Skopje after EU-mediated talks in Strasbourg in France with opposition leader Zoran Zaev aimed at resolving the worst political crisis in Macedonia since 2001.

The aircraft, which has been in use for no more than eight years, is now is in Nuremberg, Germany for repair.

According to initial information, a malfunction occurred in the plane, which forced the pilot to try to land at the nearest airport as the standard procedure requires, according to Gjorgiev.

He added that "those on board have heard a loud and piercing sound which led to depressurization".

"Immediately, the pilot tried to lower the altitude in a bid to drop the pressure and make an emergency landing at the nearest airport," said Gjorgiev.