Turkish jets intercept Russian plane over Black Sea

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. 
  http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-jets-intercept-russian-plane-over-black-sea.aspx?pageID=238&nID=79706&NewsCatID=351
15/3/15
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