Russian aircraft again violates Estonia's airspace near Vaindloo island

TALLINN - A Russian aircraft on Thursday violated the Estonian airspace near the island of Vaindloo in the Gulf of Finland, marking the second time that a Russian aircraft violates the Estonian airspace this week.

An Ilyushin IL-96 aircraft belonging to Russia at about noon on Tuesday entered the Estonian airspace near the island of Vaindloo without permission, spokespeople at the headquarters of the Estonian defense forces told BNS. The aircraft spent less than a minute in Estonian airspace.

The plane's transponder was turned on, but it had not presented a flight plan. The aircraft had no radio contact with Estonian Air Navigation Services.

The Estonian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned the Russian ambassador and handed him a diplomatic note. This is the fourth time that a Russian aircraft has made an unauthorized incursion into the Estonian airspace this year.

The previous such incursion took place on Tuesday, when an Ilyushin IL-96 aircraft belonging to Russia entered the Estonian airspace near the island of Vaindloo without permission and spent less than a minute in Estonian airspace.

Also on Tuesday the Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador and handed him a diplomatic note.