Sweden summons Russian envoy after Su-27's dangerous maneuver over Baltic Sea

February 24, 2019 (UNIAN) Russia’s ambassador to Sweden has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain why a Russian fighter jet flew within 20 metres off a Swedish aircraft last week. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Diana Qudhaib told SVT that the Russian ambassador will meet with the ministry’s head of European security policy on Monday, The Local reported citing public broadcaster SVT. “The Foreign Ministry views this incident as serious. The Russian plane acted in an improper and unprofessional manner in a way that jeopardized flight safety,” Qudhaib told the broadcaster. Last Tuesday, a Swedish surveillance plane was on a routine mission over the Baltic Sea. While in international air space between Gotland and the Baltics, the Swedish plane was approached by a Russian Su-27 fighter jet which had taken off from Kaliningrad.

The Russian Jet. Photo: Sweden's National Defence Radio Establishment

The Russian fighter jet pilot behaved aggressively, according to the Swedish air force's Colonel Anders Persson “First they passed from the front and they came back and positioned themselves very, very close – closer than usual,” he told news agency TT. Persson said that the Russian Su-27 was at one point within 20 metres of his plane. He said the “offensive behavior” was likely a signal from Russia that it did not believe the Swedish plane “should be where we were”. The Swedish armed forces reported the incident to the government, and now the foreign ministry said it wants answers. “This took place over international waters and the Swedish plane was fully within its right to fly in the area,” Qudhaib said. Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist called the incident "unacceptable". "This was very unnecessary, provocative and very dangerous," he told SVT.