CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Delta Air Lines plane carrying 203 passengers and 15 crew members was turned back from Russian air space Wednesday after Russian air traffic control authorities said the plane did not have the proper overflight permission, a Delta spokesman said.

Flight 55 was then diverted to San Francisco, where it landed Wednesday night.

(snip)

Williams, the airline spokesman, said: "From Delta's perspective, we believe we did file the proper paperwork, but we'll certainly be looking into the matter."

The plane is an MD-11. The original flight path from Atlanta to Japan covers 6,850 miles.

FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown told CNN that two other planes from United States' airlines flew through Russian airspace after the Delta flight with no problems.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), April 05, 2001