Estonian defense forces say Russian aircraft violated Estonian airspace

Published June 21, 2018 at 9:42 am

A Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft makes a very-low altitude pass by the USS Donald Cook (DDG 75),an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, operating in the Baltic Sea April 12, 2016. A United States Navy Destroyer operating in international waters in the Baltic Sea experienced several close interactions by Russian aircraft on April 11 and 12. USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) encountered multiple, aggressive flight maneuvers by Russian aircraft that were performed within close proximity of the ship. On April 11, Donald Cook was conducting deck landing drills with an Allied military helicopter when two Russian SU-24 jets made numerous, close-range and low altitude passes at approximately 3 p.m. local. One of the passes, which occurred while the Allied helicopter was refueling on the deck of Donald Cook, was deemed unsafe by the ships commanding officer. As a safety precaution, flight operations were suspended until the SU-24s departed the area. (AFP)

Photo by AFP

A Russian Interior Ministry Tupolev Tu-154M aircraft violated Estonian airspace off Vaindloo Island on June 20, the press service of the Estonian Defense Forces’ General Staff told Interfax.

The aircraft was in Estonian airspace for about a minute. The transponder was switched on, but the flight plan was not presented. The plane did not maintain radio contact with Estonian aviation services.

The Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to Estonia and presented him with a note of protest.

It was the second Russian aircraft to violate Estonian airspace this year, according to the Defense Forces.