How This Airline Bypassed Heavy US Sanctions & Acquired 3 Airbus A330s

Belarusian national carrier Belavia has somehow managed to acquire three Airbus A330-200 aircraft despite heavy Western sanctions prohibiting aircraft and jetliner components from being sold to Belarus. These large, widebody aircraft were formerly operated by Emirates and are currently around 20 years old. These jets were then sold to Magic Air, a semi-shady airline based in the Gambia that Jordanian-Syrian businessman Tarek Abdel Hamid Al Ajami runs. These aircraft were acquired originally from the bankrupt Turkish airline Onur Air around five years ago.