German Eurofighters were dispatched early Sunday morning to intercept a Russian IL-20M military reconnaissance aircraft operating in neutral Baltic Sea airspace. After successfully identifying the plane, Germany’s air force transferred escort duties to their NATO allies in Sweden.
A statement from the German air force confirmed, “Once again, our rapid-response alert force, comprising two Eurofighters, was tasked by NATO to investigate an unidentified aircraft lacking a flight plan or radio contact in international airspace.”
“It was a Russian IL-20M reconnaissance aircraft. Following visual identification, the escort was seamlessly handed over to our Swedish NATO partners, allowing our jets to return to their base in Rostock-Laage.”
This incident has escalated tensions, prompting NATO’s North Atlantic Council to schedule a meeting for Tuesday, September 23, 2025, to address Russia’s violation of Estonian airspace, according to officials privy to the matter who spoke with Reuters.
This follows a separate event on Friday when three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets reportedly breached Estonian airspace without authorization, remaining there for twelve minutes before being compelled to depart.