This is Hyperbole of the finest kind

The background:
Mr. Snowden is in Moskau, as is the Bolivian President, Evo Morales, who is on a state visit with Mr. Putin.
The USA suspects that Mr. Morales might assist Mr. Snowden to leave Russia and fly to Bolivia on board of his craft and therefore convinces several European countries to withhold the right to enter their territory by the Bolivian Jet.
Before entering French or Belgian air space the Bolivian has to turn around and asks and is given landing rights in Vienna.

A Bolivian News Agency reports, according to "The Kleine Zeitung" , that  Evo Morales, telephoned the President of Austria, Heinz Fischer, and expressed his gratitude claiming that Fischer "saved his life" by allowing the Bolivian Plane to land in Vienna.
"What would have happened, had the plane not been allowed to land in Vienna" ? so asked Morales.
By implication Mr. Morales suggests that his craft, having run out of fuel, would have crashed and all aboard, including Senior Morales might have been killed. 
I cannot fathom another reason why the Bolivian would thank the Austrian for having "saved his Life".
Is this just South American enthusiastic hyperbole, or is it a clumsy attempt to paint the USA and Mr. Obama as potential killers?
In fact, the Bolivian plane could have landed on at least a dozen German, Swiss or Austrian airfields, so that really nobody saved Mr. Morales' life.
But hey, what a lovely story it makes.
A thriller in the air.
Get 007
or
Bertstravels.