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Video: Norwegian jet performs emergency manoeuvre to avoid Russian MiG | Video: Norwegian jet performs emergency manoeuvre to avoid Russian MiG |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Norway's Armed Forces have released a video that shows one of their planes having to make an emergency manoeuvre to avoid colliding with a Russian jet fighter. | Norway's Armed Forces have released a video that shows one of their planes having to make an emergency manoeuvre to avoid colliding with a Russian jet fighter. |
The footage which was released on Sunday, captures the Norwegian F16 on a NATO mission to intercept a Russian MiG-31 that has was spotted flying in international airspace just off the northern Norwegian coast. | The footage which was released on Sunday, captures the Norwegian F16 on a NATO mission to intercept a Russian MiG-31 that has was spotted flying in international airspace just off the northern Norwegian coast. |
The pilot is flying tracking the MiG, when he is forced to make a sudden movement to the left after the Russian aircraft cuts in front of the his flight path. | The pilot is flying tracking the MiG, when he is forced to make a sudden movement to the left after the Russian aircraft cuts in front of the his flight path. |
As the Russian MiG comes within 60 feet of his plane, the Norwegian pilot is heard shouting “What the hell?." | As the Russian MiG comes within 60 feet of his plane, the Norwegian pilot is heard shouting “What the hell?." |
“We could have had a collision between the aircraft,” said Norwegian Armed Forces spokesperson Brynjar Stordal. | “We could have had a collision between the aircraft,” said Norwegian Armed Forces spokesperson Brynjar Stordal. |
“The pilot has a spontaneous reaction in the video, and both his comment and the evasive manoeuvre indicate that this is unwanted. We don’t know if this was a mistake by the Russian pilot, or a sign of a more aggressive behaviour by the Russians.” | “The pilot has a spontaneous reaction in the video, and both his comment and the evasive manoeuvre indicate that this is unwanted. We don’t know if this was a mistake by the Russian pilot, or a sign of a more aggressive behaviour by the Russians.” |
The Norwegian Armed Forces are yet to confirm when the incident happened. | |
The close call is yet another example of the increasing presence of Russian military aircraft in international airspace in recent times - particularly above Scandanavia. | |
According to statistics from the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, Norwegian F16s have had to scramble Russian jets 41 times last year and already 43 times this year – an increase on the 16 jets that were scrambled in 2005. | According to statistics from the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, Norwegian F16s have had to scramble Russian jets 41 times last year and already 43 times this year – an increase on the 16 jets that were scrambled in 2005. |
The Norwegian Defence Force has also said that the Russian planes being used are larger and that Russian pilots are flying more aggressively and in bigger formations | The Norwegian Defence Force has also said that the Russian planes being used are larger and that Russian pilots are flying more aggressively and in bigger formations |
In October, Norwegian planes intercepted two Russian Su-34 jets just off the coast of northern Norway. | In October, Norwegian planes intercepted two Russian Su-34 jets just off the coast of northern Norway. |
This was the first time that the Su-34 planes, more powerful than the standard MiGs, had been seen in the air above Norway. | This was the first time that the Su-34 planes, more powerful than the standard MiGs, had been seen in the air above Norway. |
Commenting on the latests incident in an email to the Wall Street Journal, Norwegian Minister of Defense Ine Eriksen Søreide, said: “I don’t think there’s a special need for worry, but we are of course monitoring the activity.” | Commenting on the latests incident in an email to the Wall Street Journal, Norwegian Minister of Defense Ine Eriksen Søreide, said: “I don’t think there’s a special need for worry, but we are of course monitoring the activity.” |
Adding: “Russia, like everyone else, must abide with international aviation laws and regulations. It is unacceptable that Russian planes create dangerous situations in European airspace.” | Adding: “Russia, like everyone else, must abide with international aviation laws and regulations. It is unacceptable that Russian planes create dangerous situations in European airspace.” |
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