Sweden scrambles fighter jets to intercept Russia spy plane over Baltic Sea

Two Swedish fighter jets under NATO command were scrambled Thursday over the Baltic Sea to escort away a Russian reconnaissance plane that was approaching Polish airspace, Sweden's armed forces said, marking at least the third time in about a week that Russian aircraft had been intercepted in the region.

"The plane was close to Polish airspace so we went up to signal our presence, make a visual identification and escort it out of the area," Swedish air force spokeswoman Therese Akerstedt told AFP.

The Swedish jets, based in Malbork, Poland under NATO command, identified the aircraft as a Russian IL-20 Coot reconnaissance plane. The mission took place in international airspace, Swedish officials said.