Russian MiG-31 Fighter Jet Scrambled to Intercept Norwegian Aircraft Over Barents Sea

NATO aircraft, including spy planes, have been routinely flying along Russia’s borders since relations between Moscow and the West started deteriorating in 2014. Usually, they conduct their flights near the north-western borders and in the vicinity of the Crimean Peninsula.

Russia’s Defence Ministry has stated that an MiG-31 fighter jet was scrambled to intercept a Norwegian Falcon 20 jet outfitted for conducting electronic warfare and reconnaissance missions.

The Russian National Defence Management Centre stressed in a statement on the incident that the Russian jet was acting in accordance with international regulations in order to prevent the Norwegian military jet from violating the national border.

NATO military airplanes routinely fly along Russia’s borders, frequently prompting the country’s air force to scramble jets to prevent illegal border crossings. Over the past two weeks alone, there have been at least five other such incidents along Russia’s borders – not only in the north-west, but also in the south-west.

These flights became regular after relations between the West and Moscow began to deteriorate following a coup in Ukraine in 2014 along with subsequent accusations and sanctions against Russia.

Sourse: sputniknews.com