On Thursday, March 19, 2026, the press service of the Estonian Defence Forces reported that yesterday afternoon a Russian Su-30 multirole aircraft (NATO reporting name: Flanker-H) violated the country’s airspace.
Russian Su-30SM / Photo: NATO AIRCOM
On Wednesday afternoon, March 18, a Russian Su-30 fighter jet entered Estonian airspace without authorization in the area of Vaindloo Island and remained in Estonian airspace for approximately one minute. The violation was responded to with an identification flight by the Italian Air Force unit stationed in Ämari as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission.
The aircraft did not have a flight plan and lacked two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic services.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Embassy in Estonia and handed him a diplomatic note.
This was the first violation of Estonia’s airspace by an aircraft of the Russian Federation this year.
Estonian Defence Forces
Two Italian Eurofighter F-2000A Typhoon multirole aircraft were scrambled in response.
It is worth recalling that on September 19, 2025, three Russian MiG-31 heavy interceptor/strike aircraft (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) violated Estonian airspace. The aircraft reportedly remained in the airspace of the EU and NATO member state for a total of 12 minutes. Italian F-35A Lightning II jets responded at the time. This was the fourth such incident last year.
On Wednesday, 18 March, a Russian SU-30 fighter jet entered 🇪🇪 airspace near Vaindloo Island without permission, remaining for approximately one minute.
NATO Baltic Air Policing aircraft, operated by the 🇮🇹 Air Force, conducted an identification flight in response. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/nCLxbpVuPo— Estonian Defence Forces | Eesti Kaitsevägi (@Kaitsevagi) March 19, 2026
ℹ️ More information: https://t.co/z7TI6SoE5U
3/3— Estonian Defence Forces | Eesti Kaitsevägi (@Kaitsevagi) March 19, 2026
.@MFAestonia has summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires after a Russian SU-30 fighter jet violated Estonia’s airspace near Vaindloo Island on March 18, remaining for about one minute.
I can confirm that NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission responded swiftly, with Italian Air Force…— Margus Tsahkna (@Tsahkna) March 19, 2026
UPDATE
On Friday, March 20, NATO’s Allied Air Command confirmed the incident and released a photo of the Russian aircraft. It was identified as a Su-30SM (“Blue 42”) belonging to Russian Naval Aviation. It was also reported that support for the Italian quick reaction alert pair was provided by Finnish (F/A-18 Hornet) and Swedish (JAS 39 Gripen) aircraft.
On Wednesday, 🇮🇹 fighter jets from@ItalianAirForce, deployed at Amari Air Base 🇪🇪 for @NATO enhanced Air Policing, intercepted a Russian 🇷🇺SU-30 Flanker H aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
The Italian jets launched the Alpha Scramble under NATO’s Eastern Sentry activities… pic.twitter.com/FKlMuvBXRF
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) March 20, 2026
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