NATO scrambles fighter jets to intercept Russian plane over Baltic Sea | World | News

NATO has once again been forced to scramble fighter jets to incercept a Russian plane over the Baltic Sea as tensions continue to soar. Polish fighters today intercepted intercepted a Russian Il-20 aircraft that was conducting a flight over the Baltic Sea.

The Russian plane had no filed flight plan and with its transponder turned off. The aircraft was carrying out a reconnaissance mission in international airspace, says the Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces. The on-duty pair of Air Force fighters successfully intercepted, visually identified, and escorted the aircraft away from the area of responsibility.

The aircraft did not violate Polish airspace. The Polish airforce said they “remain in constant readiness to respond to every threat and protect the sovereignty of Polish airspace”.

A spokesperson for the Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces wrote on X: “Interceptions of this kind are a standard element of the airspace security system. Their purpose is to identify and monitor objects that do not comply with international aviation procedures.

“These actions enable ongoing assessment of the situation and maintenance of safety in the airspace. Protecting Polish skies is not only a duty, but a daily mission of the soldiers of Wojsko Polskie , who with full commitment guard the security of our country and remain in constant readiness to respond to every threat and protect the sovereignty of Polish airspace.”

The Baltic Sea is often viewed by military experts as Europe’s key ‘strategic sea’, bordered by eight NATO members and Russia.

Last month the UK intercepted a Russian plane over the Norwegian Sea. The Ministry of Defence said a Russian “Bear F” maritime patrol aircraft had repeatedly approached the carrier strike group in the Norwegian Sea last week, Politico reports. It said this was done in an “unsafe and unprofessional” manoeuvre.

The ministry said the Russian aircraft had dropped a large number of sonobuoys near the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier – the first European aircraft carrier conducting NATO air defence operations with F-35 jets.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said “this activity was unsafe and unprofessional”.