Ermal Beqiraj’s arrest in France has also raised questions about the fate of his extradition. Security expert Fation Softa explained why the investigation being conducted by French authorities could influence the decision to return him to Albania.
According to security expert Fation Softa, everything could depend on the investigation that French authorities are conducting into the flight over an area with critical infrastructure.
“If the flight is considered a mistake, he could face a fine of around 7,000 euros. But if other suspicions arise, the priority may be the investigation in France rather than extradition,” he said.
Softa also focused on the flight route, emphasizing that Beqiraj was not a random pilot. According to him, as the owner of a company that owns private jets, he is supposed to be well-versed in air corridors, flight procedures, and areas where passage is allowed or prohibited.
“A person who has a flight company knows the corridors and passage routes very well. You have to get permission to take off from the runway and you have to have a certain direction. A person who knows the territory, I think, had knowledge of the location of that plant. It started from the runway and went towards the coast. It diverted to Calais and passes over the area where the nuclear TECI is. At this moment it was intercepted by French fighter jets that called and requested the aircraft to land and escorted it. As soon as it landed, its arrest was made. This file and the circumstances of this flight will be investigated by the state police, the intelligence and anti-terror police or even the anti-espionage structure.
During the landing of the plane, the control found three Air Tags on his body. Other trips made with that plane were checked, the Black Box was checked because during the time he was on the plane, Beqiraj may have spoken via phone or other devices. Laptops, phones are taken, whether he had collaborators on the ground or not, who he spoke to and what the purpose was. A young man who knows the French territory, who has received a flight permit, the first thing is to know the technology, corridors and flight zones. He did not come by chance. He is the owner of the plane so he must know the areas where it is flown and the altitudes very well. Whether he worked alone or for others is unknown,” said Softa.
According to Softa, if evidence emerges from GPS, photographs or possible scans that the flight was intentional, then the investigation in France may take precedence over extradition to Albania.
Beqiraj was arrested on Tuesday north of Paris after the small private plane he was flying in was intercepted by French fighter jets over the Penly nuclear power plant. During the checks, it turned out that he was internationally wanted by SPAK in the context of the AKSHI file, where he is accused of six criminal offenses.