Russian spy plane intercepted over baltic by NATO fighters
Berlin reported an incident over the Baltic Sea. The Russians allegedly sent an Ilyushin Il-20, which was flying "without a flight plan or contact with civilian air traffic control." Therefore, fighter jets were scrambled.
5:31 PM EDT, August 10, 2024
Russian reconnaissance aircraft entered international airspace over the Baltic Sea without establishing contact with air traffic control.
The Luftwaffe reported on Saturday that German and Swedish Air Force interceptors, along with NATO's air traffic control in the Baltic countries, took off on Friday evening and escorted the Russian Il-20M aircraft.
Another incident over the Baltic Sea
In mid-June, a Russian SU-24 bomber flew over the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, which is about 220 miles from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Two Swedish fighter jets were dispatched to remove the Russian aircraft from the airspace, the "Welt" portal recalled.
Russia's attack on Ukraine in February 2022 led to Finland and Sweden joining NATO in 2023 and 2024. All Baltic Sea countries have since become members of the western military alliance except for Russia.
