On March 4 fighter aircraft of the NATO Air Policing Detachment were alerted in response to one AN-26 flying via international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. Its onboard transponder was switched off, the crew had no pre-filed flight plan and was not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On March 4 NATO fighter jets were scrambled to intercept one Su-24MR and one Su-33 flying through international airspace from mainland Russia and back. Their onboard transponders were switched off, the crews had no pre-filed flight plans and were not keeping radio communication.
On March 5 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to identify and escort two SU-24M flying from Kaliningrad and back. Their crews kept the onboard transponders off, had no flight plans and were not maintaining radio communication.
