Russian Warplanes Risking Safety Of European Airliners, Says Nato Chief -- The Telegraph
Jens Stoltenberg, the new secretary general of Nato, tells the Telegraph that more Russian military jets are flying over Europe without contacting air traffic control, raising the risk of mid-air collisions
Russia is placing civilian flights at risk by dispatching jet fighters and bombers into European airspace without following safety procedures, according to Nato’s secretary general.
Jens Stoltenberg told the Telegraph that Nato fighters had intercepted Russian military aircraft over 100 times so far this year, compared with 30 such incidents in 2013.
Russia’s long-range bombers and spy planes usually stay in international airspace, but they deliberately ignore safeguards designed to reduce the risk of collision with civilian flights. In particular, they switch off the “transponders” that allow aircraft to detect one another.
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Update #1: Russian Military Activity in Europe’s Airspace Is ‘Dangerous,’ Says U.K. -- Wall Street Journal
Update #2: Civilian Flights at Risk From Putin's 'Invisible' Fighters -- Newsweek
My Comment: Russian pilots shutting off their transponders is a definite no-no .... and dangerous. But such is the present state of affairs between the West and Russia.
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