On March 9 – 15 fighter aircraft of the NATO Air Policing Detachment were scrambled in response to international flight regulation violations six times.
On March 9 NATO fighter jets were scrambled to identify and escort two SU-24 flying via international airspace from Kaliningrad and back. Their onboard transponders were switched off, the crews had no pre-filed flight plan and were not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On March 11 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted one Su-24MR and one Su-33 flying via international airspace from mainland Russia and back with their onboard transponders switched off, without the pre-filed flight plans and not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On March 11 NATO Baltic air policing fighter jets were alerted in response to one AN-26 flying via international airspace from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia. Its onboard transponder was switched off, the crew had no pre-filed flight plan but was maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
March 12 NATO fighter aircraft identified and escorted one IL-20 on its way from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad via international airspace. Its onboard transponder was switched off, the crew had no pre-filed flight plan, though was maintaining radio communication.
On March 12 aircraft safeguarding the Baltic skies were scrambled in response to one Su-30SM and one SU-24MR flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. NATO fighter jets also identified one SU-30SMi flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad via international airspace with the onboard transponder switched off, without the flight plan, but the crew was maintaining radio communication. An identified SU-24MR flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad also had its onboard transponder switched off, no flight plan and was not maintaining radio communication.
On March 13 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted two SU-24MR flying through international airspace from mainland Russia and back. Their onboard transponders were switched off, the crews had no flight plans and were not keeping radio communication.
