On October 3 – 9 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled 4 times to intercept military aircraft of the Russian Federation in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea flying in violation of international aviation flight rules.
On October 3 NATO air policing fighter aircraft intercepted two SU-27s escorting one AN-26. The group was flying in international airspace from Kaliningrad to the mainland of the Russian Federation. The Su-27s did not have the flight plan, their onboard transponders were off, not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. The AN-26 had no flight plan, its onboard transponder was on, the crew kept radio commination with the regional traffic control centre.
On October 4 NATO fighter jets intercepted one IL-76 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad via international airspace with its onboard transponder on, without the flight plan, but maintaining radio communication.
The IL-76 was escorted by two SU-27 aircraft which flew into international airspace from Kaliningrad and later returned. Their onboard transponders were off, the crews had no flight plan and were not maintaining radio communication.
The aircraft was also escorted by two SU-30s that flew into international airspace from mainland Russia and later returned. Their onboard transponders were off, the crews had no flight plan and were not maintaining radio communication.
On October 5 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Baltic Air Policing tasks intercepted one IL-76 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia via international airspace. Its onboard transponder was on, the crew had the flight plan and kept radio communication.
The IL-76 was escorted by two SU-27s which flew into international airspace from Kaliningrad and later returned. Their onboard transponders were off, the crews had no flight plan and were not maintaining radio communication.
On October 5 NATO aircraft intercepted one IL-76 heading for mainland Russia through international airspace from Kaliningrad. Its onboard transponder was on, the crew had the flight plan and kept radio communication.
The NATO aircraft also intercepted two SU-30s that flew into international airspace from mainland Russia and then back. Their onboard transponders were off, the crews had no flight plan and were not maintaining radio communication.
