Polish fighters intercept Russian reconnaissance aircraft over Baltic Sea
A pair of F-16 fighters of the Polish Air Force on duty intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
"On April 8, 2026, a duty pair of F-16 fighters of the Polish Air Force successfully intercepted, visually identified, and escorted an aircraft of Russia, which was flying over the Baltic Sea in the area of responsibility. Polish fighters intercepted an Il-20 aircraft performing a reconnaissance mission in international airspace without a filed flight plan and with the transponder turned off. No violation of Polish airspace occurred," the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces reported on the X social network.
As reported, at the end of October 2025, Polish Air Force aircraft intercepted Russian planes over the Baltic Sea three times.
