A Russian MiG-31 fighter jet intercepted an American P-8A Poseidon spy plane near the Russian border over the Norwegian Sea on Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The interception was aimed at identifying the plane, which turned out to be American, and preventing it from crossing the Russian border, a military statement said.
The Northern Fleet ordered one of its fighters to take off and its approach forced the Poseidon to “turn around”.
“There was no violation of the border of the Russian Federation,” the note said, stressing that the fighter plane’s flight was carried out in strict accordance with international rules on the use of airspace in neutral waters.
Another MiG-31 had already intercepted an American Poseidon on September 18 as it approached Russian territory in the Barents Sea.
Source: DN
