Airspace Incidents in the Baltic

On April 16, 1992, Estonian authorities said that several groups of Russian military planes had repeatedly crossed the Russian-Estonian border and flew along the coastline toward Narva. The Estonian Foreign Ministry sent a note of protest to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

In November 1992, the Latvian Foreign Ministry sent Russia a note claiming that the Russian Air Force was systematically violating Latvian airspace. According to Latvian information, between October 1 and November 2 of that year, Russian aviation had violated Latvian airspace 88 times. Russia did not respond.

On July 27, 1994, a Russian Il-76 transport plane entered Lithuanian airspace without permission and heedless of a prohibition from the regional flight control center. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry sent Russia a note of protest. The Russian Air Force explained the incident as “the uncoordinated actions of land services and incorrect filing of an application.”

In mid-June 1999 during training in Kaliningrad Region, a group of Russian Mi-24 fighter helicopters unintentionally enter the airspace of Poland. The Polish Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Defense issued a strongly-worded statement on the incident and the Russians apologized to Poland.

On November 19, 2004, a Russian An-72 illegally entered the airspace of Estonia near the island of Vaindloo at 1:20 p.m. and left it at 1:21 p.m. At 6:14 p.m. the same day, a Russian An-26 military plane entered Estonian airspace again for one minute. On November 22, the Estonian Foreign Ministry made an official complaint to Russia.

On April 23, 2005, a Russian Air Force An-26 again violated the air border of Estonia for one minute. According to Estonian information, the plane was bound for Kaliningrad and penetrated Estonian airspace by more than a nautical mile. The Russian Air Force denied all accusations. On April 27, a representative of the Russian embassy was called into the Estonian Foreign Ministry, where he was delivered an official protest.

On August 5, 2005, a Russian Navy tu-134 flying from St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad violated Finnish airspace because of a pilot error and penetrated its territory by more than one kilometer. On August 8, Finland requested an explanation of the incident from Russia. On August 10, Russian authorities apologized.

How to Lose Orientation

Numerous cases are known of navigational and technical errors by Soviet aviation in Afghanistan that led to encroachment of planes and helicopters onto the territory of neighboring countries. Roads around Pakistani border towns were bombed more than once.

The biggest scandal arose from an unplanned Soviet encroachment into Iran. On April 5, 1982, the command of a Soviet contingent decided to destroy the Mojahed base at Rabati-Jali. A battalion of paratroopers, 61 Mi-8 helicopters, 18 Mi-6 helicopters and lead planes took part in the special operation, named “South.” Because of navigational mistakes, all the helicopters flew into Iran. One theory is that the wind carried the luminous air bombs used for orientation onto Iranian territory. As a result the helicopter force landed about 20 km. inside Iran and destroyed an asphalt plant that had been taken for a rebel base. The Iranian Foreign Ministry sent an immediate protest note to the USSR and Iranian F-4 Phantom fighter attacked the Soviet helicopters on the ground and destroyed two Mi-8s. There were no casualties.

On March 24, 1983, a Soviet Tu-22K bomber from the 203rd Heavy Bomber Guard Air Division was taking part in exercises. A navigator had installed a hydroscopic counter backward in the navigational system and, as a result, the planes course was plotted 180 degree around, that is, exactly backward. It left Mozdok with the intention of flying to Baranovichi Airfield in Belarus. Instead, it flew into Iran. The crew did not check its course. Crewmembers mistook Teheran for Kursk in the dark and only understood their error when the noticed the sun rising from the “wrong” direction. Fortunately, the commander of the craft was able to contact the airbase at Mary and orient the plane by that base's radar beacon.

On July 4, 1989, the navigational system of a MiG-23 failed over Poland and the pilot parachuted. The craft then flew over 900 km. on autopilot over Poland, East Germany and West Germany before crashing in Belgium. One Belgian died from wounds received in the crash.