Second Russian spy plane intercepted in three days, says Poland

Poland confirms another interception of Russian plane

Rising tension in European skies

Military aircraft regularly patrol the skies to protect national borders and monitor potential threats. With ongoing conflicts and strained East-West relations, interceptions have become more common across European airspace.

Recent months have seen increased surveillance activity near NATO’s eastern flank, with several close encounters sparking international concern.

Poland intercepts another Russian surveillance plane

According to a statement from Poland’s Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, two MiG-29 fighter jets were dispatched on October 30 to intercept a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea.

The plane, which did not enter Polish airspace, was identified and escorted away as a precautionary measure, reports Ziare.com.

Flight with no transponder or filed plan

Reports from the Polish Army Operational Command confirmed that the Russian Il-20 was flying in international airspace with its transponder switched off and without a flight plan.

This behavior triggered the interception protocol, with Polish jets shadowing the aircraft until it left the area under NATO responsibility, reports Ziare.com.

Not an isolated incident

This marked the second such interception in three days, highlighting a pattern of provocative reconnaissance flights.

Earlier that same week, another Il-20 was intercepted by Polish forces under similar conditions — no transponder signal and no filed flight route, notes Ziare.com. These repeated actions have heightened military vigilance across the region.

NATO’s eastern flank on high alert

Since September, tensions have escalated further. According to Ziare.com, this follows a series of incidents, including Russian aircraft violating Estonian airspace and over 20 drones entering Polish skies.

In response, NATO countries have increased their airspace monitoring and alert levels as Russia intensifies operations in Ukraine.

A volatile airspace demands caution

With the war in Ukraine ongoing and Russia continuing its military maneuvers near NATO borders, the skies over Eastern Europe remain fraught with risk.

Incidents like these reinforce the importance of international cooperation, quick response protocols, and the need for transparent flight practices in shared airspace

This article is made and published by August M, who may have used AI in the preparation