A Russian MiG-31 fighter intercepted a US P-8A Poseidon patrol plane approaching the Russian state border today over the Barents Sea, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported today.
“On September 18, Russian airspace control facilities detected an aerial object over the Barents Sea that was approaching the state border of the Russian Federation,” the military institution said in a statement.
Defense explained that, in order to identify the object and prevent violation of the Russian border, “a MiG-31 fighter of the air defense forces of the North Sea Fleet was sent.”
The crew of the Russian fighter identified the object as a US Navy P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft.
The plane turned around without violating the Russian border, said the Ministry of Defense, which assured that the flight of the Russian fighter was carried out “in strict accordance with international standards for the use of airspace over neutral waters.”
