Those attending the trade conference learnt from one participant that doing business in the Baltics could be quite troublesome. Vagn Srensen, European head of SAS, recounted how proud the airline was, as its very first flight flew to St Petersburg.

The plane was packed with VIPs, many of whom became nervous when the pilot began speaking in a very agitated voice. The source of the airman's concern was two MIG fighter jets that had flanked the plane, and were ordering him to get out of Russian airspace.

Luckily, the Russian ambassador to Sweden was on board. He went to the cockpit, took the radio and began to barrack the ground authorities in their own language.

After a few minutes, the fighter planes peeled off and the passenger plane landed without further incident.