Russian plane invades Estonian air space

TALLINN- An AN-72 aircraft of the Russian militarymade an unauthorized entry into Estonia's airspace on June 7, the General Staff said.

The plane en route from Kaliningradto the Leningrad region entered Estonia'sairspace at 9:03 p.m. over the Gulf of Finlandisland of Vaindlooand stayed there for a minute, the military said.

The plane was flying above neutral waters before straying into Estonian airspace and it had contactwith Estonian air trafficcontrol.

The violation was registered by the EstonianAirSovereigntyOperationsCenter based at the Amari air base.

The Russian Defense Ministry has denied the allegations.

It is true that an AN-72 aircraft was returning from Kaliningrad,but it did not invade Estonianairspace, ministry spokesman Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky told Russian newsagency Interfax.

In his words, the plane was strictly following a flight plan filed inadvance.

In view of Estonia's special attitudetowards Russian military aircraft flying along its borders, all flights byRussian Air Force and Navy aircraft are taken under special control, thespokesman added. "Such control starts with preparations for a flight andends when the craft has landed," he said.

Drobyshevsky said that while the AN-72 was passing near Vaindloo Island Estonian air traffic controllers madeno comments to the Russian crew.

"There exists legislation governing flights over neutral waters,legislation that Russian military pilots strictly comply with," thespokesman added.

Russian aircraft have invaded Estonianairspace over the Gulf of Finland before. For instance,a Russian TU-154 strayed twice into Estonia'sskies in June 2007. Such incidents were especially frequent in 2004 and 2005.

Estoniahas repeatedly complained about this to Russia,but the Russian side has neither admitted the violations nor responded toprotests.

However, Moscow has apologizedto Finland forsimilar incidents.

In March Estonian, Finnishand Russian officials reached an agreement to fit military aircraft flying overthe Gulf of Finland with GPS systems and startexchanging information about flight plans.