Possibly was an actual plane malfunction according to another comment on HN (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5981267)
Radio exchange at http://audioboo.fm/boos/1482009-bolivia-air-force-fuerza-aer...
Radio exchange at http://audioboo.fm/boos/1482009-bolivia-air-force-fuerza-aer...
It says the plane was allowed to land in Spain for refueling before flying on to Austria.
It describes the rerouting as a "hostile act" by the US goverment: This is a hostile act by the United States State Department which has used various European governments"
I don't know what went on exactly but all that re-routing a plane with Snowden on it does for the U.S. is... nothing, really. It's not like they're going to stop them from going to Bolivia, and some kind of blackbag shenanigans while the plane refuels on the runway would lead to much more international outcry than I think either Obama or Kerry would want to accept.
Even if we assume some kind of Darth Obama type nonsense I just don't see where this would have any upside for the U.S., which makes it seem a little implausible... even Obama has to be smarter than that.
Edit: As far as the transcript the possibility would make sense if it was a charter flight and not a Bolivian aircrew. It would still be quite insane for the U.S. to ask for that or any of the countries to participate though.
2. Portugal and France don't control airspace needed to fly from Spain to Bolivia. Neither do they control airspace needed or very desirable to fly between Austria and Bolivia.
3. Therefore what we are hearing now is not likely to be the real story.
Are there strong jet streams or something which would cause it to choose a different route?