On October 10 – 16 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled 2 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 11 NATO air policing fighter aircraft intercepted one TU-134 flying from Kaliningrad oblast to the mainland of the Russian Federation via international airspace with its onboard transponder off, without the pre-filed flight plan, keeping radio contact with the regional air traffic control centre.
On October 13 NATO fighter aircraft IL-62 and three MIG-31s flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia through international airspace. The IL-62 had its onboard transponder switched on, the flight plan, and maintained radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. The three MIG-31 aircraft had their onboard transponders on, the flight plan, but were not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
The said aircraft were escorted by two SU-27s that flew into international aircraft from Kaliningrad and then returned. Their onboard transponders were off, the crews had no flight plan and were not maintaining radio communication. Another two escorting SU-35s flying into international airspace from mainland Russia and back also had the onboard transponders off, no flight plan and did not maintain radio communication.
