German fighter jets intercept Russian spy plane over Baltic Sea: Report

BERLIN

German combat jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea as it was approaching German airspace, local media reported on Tuesday.


On Saturday, the Russian spy plane had been identified in international airspace off the German Baltic Sea island of Ruegen, triggering a German Air Force alert, according to the daily Bild.

As a reaction, two Eurofighters took off from the Laage air base in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to escort the Russian aircraft away from German airspace.


The latest incident comes in the wake of another alleged Russian violation of Swedish and Danish airspace on Friday.


“A Russian AN-30 propeller plane violated Swedish airspace on Friday evening,” the Swedish Defense Ministry said in a statement.


The ministry added the plane was flying east of Bornholm, a Danish island in the Baltic, before it headed toward Swedish territory.


Following the alleged violation, Denmark summoned the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry.