A Russian reconnaissance aircraft, identified as an Ilyushin Il-20, approached northeastern Germany without following air traffic protocols, prompting the German air force to activate its Quick Reaction Alert (QRA). Eurofighter jets were dispatched from Laage airbase to escort the aircraft back to Kaliningrad, highlighting ongoing tensions in the Baltic region exacerbated by Russia's actions since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The situation underscores the heightened alertness among NATO nations regarding potential threats to airspace security.
The fact that the aircraft's transponder was deactivated presented "a considerable danger to civilian air traffic."
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