Turkish jets intercept Russian plane over Black Sea

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Turkish fighter jets intercepted a Russian plane which was flying parallel to Turkish air space over the Black Sea on March 15.

Turkish F-16 jets which took off from Bandırma and Merzifon air bases intercepted a Russian IL-20 plane, which later left Black Sea air space near Georgia, the General Staff said in a statement released pm its website.

“A Russian plane flew in international air space in the Black Sea in parallel to Turkish air space on a west-east route almost 12-25 nautical miles from the Turkish coast. Two F-16 jets from the scramble branch took off from Bandırma and intercepted the Russian place northwest of Kırklareli province and then monitored [it]. Two other F-16 scramble branches which took off from Merzifon also participated in monitoring the plane. The Russian plane left the Black Sea near Georgia,” said the statement.

Meanwhile, two F-16 jets which took off from İncirlik base in Adana were sent to the Syrian border when a Syrian MI-8 helicopter approached the border. After the Turkish jets’ arrival, the Syrian helicopter left the area nearly 2.4 nautical miles from the border. Turkish jets subsequently returned to the İncirlik base.