Ethiopian B777 freighter forced to land by Indonesian F-16 fighter jets

Ethiopian Airlines has confirmed that one of its Boeing 777 freighters was forced to land at an airport on Batam island after being followed by two Indonesian F-16 fighter jets.
Reuters, citing an Indonesian airforce spokesman, reported that the Ethiopian freighter had flown into Indonesian airspace "without permission".
In a statement, the African airline said: "Ethiopian Airlines dedicated cargo airplane with flight number ET 3728/ 14 January on a non-scheduled cargo service from Addis Ababa to Singapore carrying aircraft engine has been made to land at Batam airport (Indonesia) by Indonesian authorities.
"The subject freighter aircraft was flying to drop an urgent aircraft engine in Singapore for maintenance and was crossing the Indonesian airspace in accordance with the ICAO Chicago Convention Article 5, by which non-scheduled flight can overfly the air space of a friendly country without prior permission.
"However, the authorities may require the aircraft to make a landing. Ethiopian Airlines has explained to the Indonesian Authorities on the details of the flight and the flying crew are resting in a hotel before they continue their flight."