It is good that the Lithuanian government and military stand firm in their investigation into the Russian Su-27 that violated their airspace and crashed near Kaunus. It is quite normal for a full investigation to take place and especially when a military aircraft enters your country without permission.
From what I understand it is not the first time that the Russian airforce have infringed on the Baltic states. I find that the Russians really do have something to answer, especially that this pilot was very experienced. This aircraft was in company with other aircraft, and one of them was an airborne command post with sophisticated radar. When this Su-27 started to drift away from the main group he would have been observed on radar by their own controller and also the airborne command post.
It is obvious that given such a situation the controller would have advised the pilot of the situation and offered him guidance and instructions to bring him back on course.
NATO did not fail in its pledge to monitor and protect its allies airspace. Rather the opposite, the aircraft was observed when it infringed into Lithaunian airspace and aircraft were scramble immediately. Because of the speed and distances concerned it would have been impossible for the fighters to intercept unless they were already airborne.
I would like to congratulate the Lithuanian government for remaining strong on this issue and hope that they come up with a satisfactory enquiry and that the Russian learn that if they violate someone's airspace then they have to suffer the consequences.
Peter Eyre
