Finland scrambles fighter jet to respond to Russian aircraft
{{date|September 15, 2007}}
[[Image:IL76 Landing Roll.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A file photo of an Ilyushian Il-76 similar to the one that violated Finland's airspace]]
On Friday morning, [[Finland]] scrambled an {{w|F-18 Hornet}} {{w|fighter jet}} to intercept a [[Russia]]n {{w|Ilyushin}} {{w|Ilyushin Il-76|Il-76}} {{w|strategic airlifter}}, which had violated Finnish airspace.

The aircraft ventured about 4.5 kilometers (3 miles) into Finland's airspace near {{w|Porvoo}} over a period of three minutes, according to Finland's defense ministry. Finland's Frontier Guard has initiated an investigation.

{{w|Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister}} {{w|Matti Vanhanen}} has stated that Finland would like an explanation from Russia regarding the reasons for its actions, but he has not made an official protest against Russia.

"These kinds of (violations) must not happen, that's our clear message here," Vanhanen said. "And when they do happen, then they need to be sorted out between the countries in question. That has to be done this time too." Vanhanen also stated that he felt it was important the incident was thoroughly investigated because of safety implications incurred if aircraft stray from their designated flight paths.
[[Image:FA-18-NAVY-Blue-Diamond.jpg|thumb|left|220px|A [[United States]] F-18 Hornet similar to the one sent by Finland to intercept the transport aircraft]]
Defense Minister Jyri Hakamies confirmed that there would be a diplomatic meeting as a result between Finnish and Russian officials in order to discuss ways of preventing similar violations in the future.

Russia apologised to Finland last year following a large number of similar incidents over the space of two years, but only after Finland had protested. Russia also promised to review their charts.

According to officials, such violations as this latest one were still to be expected, due to a combination of international airspace being limited to a narrow strip off the South coast of Finland, and a high level of Russian air force activity over the {{w|Gulf of Finland}}. Russia regularly uses the area to fly missions, mostly with strategic airlifters, between {{w|Kaliningrad}}, capital of {{w|Kaliningrad Oblast}} and located between [[Poland]] and [[Lithuania]], and {{w|St Petersburg}} in Russia.

Similar incidents have been recorded in other {{w|Baltic}} states, particularly in Finland's Southern neighbour, [[Estonia]]. The most serious such incident involved the October 2005 crash of a Russian jet fighter in Lithuania.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/14/europe/EU-GEN-Finland-Russia-Air-Violation.php
|title=Finnish airspace violated by Russian aircraft, Defense Ministry says
|author=
|pub=International Herald Tribune
|date=September 14, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/news/article_1355819.php/Finland_investigates_suspected_Russian_airspace_violation
|title=Finland investigates suspected Russian airspace violation
|author=
|pub=Monsters and Critics.com
|date=September 14, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2007/09/14/afx4118797.html
|title=Finland scrambles fighter after Russian military aircraft enters airspace
|author=
|pub=Forbes
|date=September 14, 2007}}

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[[Category:Finland]]
[[Category:Aviation]]
[[Category:Russia]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]] [[Category:Iain Macdonald (Wikinewsie)]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Estonia]]
[[Category:Northwestern Federal District]]
[[Category:Saint Petersburg, Russia]]
A file photo of an Ilyushian Il-76 similar to the one that violated Finland's airspace
On Friday morning, Finland scrambled an fighter jet to intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-76|Il-76 , which had violated Finnish airspace.

The aircraft ventured about 4.5 kilometers (3 miles) into Finland's airspace near  over a period of three minutes, according to Finland's defense ministry. Finland's Frontier Guard has initiated an investigation.

Prime Minister  has stated that Finland would like an explanation from Russia regarding the reasons for its actions, but he has not made an official protest against Russia.

"These kinds of (violations) must not happen, that's our clear message here," Vanhanen said. "And when they do happen, then they need to be sorted out between the countries in question. That has to be done this time too." Vanhanen also stated that he felt it was important the incident was thoroughly investigated because of safety implications incurred if aircraft stray from their designated flight paths.
A United States F-18 Hornet similar to the one sent by Finland to intercept the transport aircraft
Defense Minister Jyri Hakamies confirmed that there would be a diplomatic meeting as a result between Finnish and Russian officials in order to discuss ways of preventing similar violations in the future.

Russia apologised to Finland last year following a large number of similar incidents over the space of two years, but only after Finland had protested. Russia also promised to review their charts.

According to officials, such violations as this latest one were still to be expected, due to a combination of international airspace being limited to a narrow strip off the South coast of Finland, and a high level of Russian air force activity over the Kaliningrad, capital of St Petersburg in Russia.

Similar incidents have been recorded in other  states, particularly in Finland's Southern neighbour, Estonia. The most serious such incident involved the October 2005 crash of a Russian jet fighter in Lithuania.
Finland Aviation Russia Politics and conflicts Iain Macdonald (Wikinewsie) Europe Estonia Northwestern Federal District Saint Petersburg, Russia