Russia Admits Violating Turkish Airspace Due to Bad Weather

The Ministry underlined that it has already taken the necessary steps to prevent the repetition of such incidents in the future.

Ministry of Defense spokesman for the Russian military operation in Syria, Igor Konashenkov said “On Saturday, October 3, a Russian Sukhoi-30 combat aircraft briefly, for a few seconds, entered Turkish airspace as it was making a maneuver over mountain-woody forest terrain to return to Hmeymim airfield after a planned combat flight.”

“That is why, the incident occurred because of unfavorable weather conditions in that area,” Konashenkov added.

The spokesman also explained that “after checking and analyzing data of objective control, the command of the air group of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria has taken necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future.”

A Russian warplane, flying over Syria, was intercepted by Turkey for violating the country’s airspace, a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said earlier on Monday.

According to the Turkish statement, the incident happened on Saturday at 9:08 a.m., when the Russian aircraft entered Turkey’s airspace near Yayladagi, in the western Turkish province of Hatay, bordering Syria.

“The Russian aircraft exited Turkish airspace into Syria after it was intercepted by two F-16s from the Turkish Air Force, which were conducting patrols in the region,” the Turkish statement noted.

Earlier on Monday, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned that Turkey will not allow any country, friend or foe, to violate its airspace and will take all measures to prevent it.