Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft conducting a mission in international airspace, without a filed flight plan and with its transponder switched off. There was no violation of Polish airspace – the Operational Command of the Armed Forces Branches reported.
“On April 8, 2026, a duty pair of F-16 fighter jets of the Air Force successfully carried out an interception, visual identification, and escort from the area of responsibility of an aircraft of the Russian Federation conducting a flight over the Baltic Sea. Polish fighter jets intercepted an Il-20 aircraft carrying out a reconnaissance mission in international airspace, without a filed flight plan and with its transponder switched off. There was no violation of Polish airspace,” the Operational Command of the Armed Forces Branches stated.
It was emphasized that interception is one of the “basic tools for ensuring real control over a state’s airspace.” “Thanks to the interception procedure, it is possible to immediately determine the nature of a flight, assess potential threats, and – if necessary – take corrective actions such as changing course or directing the aircraft to land.”