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Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on May 29-June 4, 2023

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2023-06-05
International cooperation

On May 29-June 4 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled four times to identify and escort aircraft of the Russian Federation flying in violation of flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

On May 29 NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one Tu-134 flying from the mainland of the Russian Federation to Kaliningrad via international airspace without a pre-filed flight plan, though maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre and with its onboard transponder switched on. The Tu-134 was escorted by two SU-27 which flew out into the international airspace from Kaliningrad and then returned. The flight was conducted without a pre-filed flight plan, onboard transponders off, and without maintaining radio communication.

On May 30 NATO Air Policing fighter jets intercepted one Tu-134 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad via international airspace without the flight plan, with its onboard transponder on, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On June 2 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one Tu-134 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia through international airspace without a pre-filed flight plan, not using its onboard transponder, though maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

In the course of the same scramble NATO fighter aircraft intercepted one AN-26 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia via international airspace. The flight had no flight plan, the crew kept the onboard transponder on, as well as radio commination.

June 2 NATO Air Policing Detachment fighter jets intercepted one IL-20 en route from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad via international airspace. It had no flight plan, the crew maintained radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre but the onboard transponder was switched off. The aircraft was escorted by two SU-27 flying into international airspace from Kaliningrad and back. The flight had no flight plan, onboard transponders of the aircraft were not switched on and the crews were not keeping radio communication.