France, Feb. 23 -- French authorities opened an investigation in October on suspicion that the Boracay, was sailing under a false flag, registered in Benin.

The vessel appears on the International Maritime Organisation's list of Russian shadow fleet ships.

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Danish authorities believe the Boracay may have been used to launch drones that flew over Copenhagen's airport in September, forcing its temporary closure.

The captain, Chen Zhangjie, is at sea, and will not attend the hearing in the court in Brest, northern France.

His lawyer plans to challenge the court's jurisdiction, arguing that as the events occurred in international waters, "French law does not au...