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In the early hours of July 2, 2002, 46-year-old Vitaly Kaloiev sat alone in the arrival

lounge of Barcelona's El Pratt International Airport, keeping an eye on the flight information

board that displayed the schedule of all inbound flights. Listed amongst them was Bashkirian

Airlines Flight BTC 2937, which had been due to a ride from Moscow more than an hour ago.

The word delayed had since been noted alongside. Vitaly had inquired about the delay to

airport staff at an information desk, but they offered him no explanation. With no other

option but to endure the wait, Vitaly purchased the third coffee, returned to his seat, and

continued his due to watch of the information board.

Over the following minutes, the half empty room began to fill with people. Reporters and

news crews quickly gathered around the information desk, pointing cameras, microphones and voice

recorders at airport staff, bombarding them with a flurry of questions that Vitaly couldn't

quite make out. One reporter noticed Vitaly curiously watching the scene unfold. She rushed

to him holding out a microphone as a cameraman trailed behind. The reporter asked Vitaly if

...