The Alliance’s jets on Nov. 29 intercepted an IL-76 transport plane flying according to a flight plan, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre and with its on-board transponder on.
The IL-76 was escorted by two Su-27 fighter-jets flying without flight plans, without maintaining radio communication with the air traffic controllers and with their on-board transponders switched off.
The intercepted aircraft were on their way from mainland Russia to the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad.
NATO’s Baltic air-policing mission is conducted from Lithuania and Estonia.