TWO RUSSIAN MILITARY aircraft entered Irish-controlled airspace again.
The Irish Aviation Authority confirmed that the aircraft entered international airspace that is controlled by them.
The IAA confirmed that it monitored the activity of two Russian military aircraft from approximately 3pm to 7pm yesterday.
“The aircraft did not enter Irish sovereign airspace at any time.”
The IAA were not informed in advance. The aircraft operated in North Atlantic airspace and in airspace under the control of the IAA.The aircraft operated within 25 nautical miles of the Irish coast.Irish controlled airspace extends 256 nautical miles off the west coast of Ireland. Irish sovereign airspace extends 12 nautical miles off the Irish coast.
The IAA said the flight posed no safety threat to civil aviation on this occasion.
It is understood that the two aircraft were the same bombers that flew past the Cornwall coast in the UK.
British Forces scrambled its fighter jets to escort the two Russian Bear bombers away from the Cornwall coast.
Footage of of the incident was reportedly shown on Russian television:
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he suspected that Russia was “trying to make a point” and that he would not dignify it with a response.
This is not the first time Russian aircraft has flown by Ireland.
Russian jets came close to the Irish coastline only last month. While the jets did not enter Irish airspace, they did enter an area controlled by the Irish Aviation Authority.
Speaking about the episode, Minister for Defence Simon Coveney said the government had “expressed real concern” to the Russian authorities.
He said the Russians were told that it was “not acceptable”.
It’s not an acceptable situation and we have let that be known to the Russian authorities and we hope it won’t be happening again.
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