On March 18–24 the NATO Air Policing Mission fighter aircraft were scrambled five times to intercept aircraft of the Russian Federation violating flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
On March 18 the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission Detachment aircraft were scrambled to identify and escort one IL-20 flying from Kaliningrad into international airspace and then back. It had no pre-filed flight plan, the onboard transponder was switched off and the crew was not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On March 19 the NATO air policing fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one IL-76 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia in international airspace. It had no flight a plan, the onboard transponder was on and the crew was maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On March 19 the NATO fighter jets identified and escorted one IL-20 flying from Kaliningrad and back through international airspace. It had no pre-filed flight plan, the onboard transponder was off, no radio contact.
On March 19 the NATO Air Policing fighter jets were scrambled to intercept one SU-24MR flying in international airspace from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia without the flight plan, its onboard transponder off, not maintaining radio communication.
On March 21 the NATO fighter jets identified and escorted one IL-20. It was flying in international airspace from Kaliningrad to the mainland of the Russian Federation without the flight plan, with its onboard transponder off, not maintaining radio communication.