Air Force confirms Russian military aircraft overflight in Colombian territory

The Air Force has confirmed the overflight of a Russian military aircraft in Colombian airspace on the morning of Monday, April 19, which would enter from a position different from that authorized.

“On Monday, April 19 at 9:22 a.m., the Russian government’s Illyushin II-96-400VPU plane was detected, coming from Moscow, which had overflight permit 0354/21, which established entry into the Colombian airspace by coordinates 12 ′ 28 ′41 .46 ”W71º24′0.75 ″ north of La Guajira, outside the mainland”the Air Force noted.

However, the national air defense system radars detected that the plane would enter from a position different from that authorized, which is why the plane was ordered to take off. Kfir who intercepted him and ordered his immediate departure, an order which was followed by the Russian plane.

“Once this information was known, the Colombian Air Force Command and Control Center ordered the departure of the interceptor plane, in accordance with air interdiction procedures,” the Colombian Air Force said.

The FAC statement underlined the responsiveness of Kfir’s crews, who handled the situation appropriately, “Exercise sovereignty and control of the airspace, thus demonstrating Colombia’s ability to defend its territory.”

It should be noted that this is not the first time that this type of event is presented, according to the institution, similar cases have been recorded on other dates: August 31, 2019, April 19, 2020 and July 21, 2020.

“Also recalling that on October 30 and November 1, 2013, two Russian TU-160 bombers violated national space, which were intercepted by Kfir planes”, highlights the statement.

Finally, the FAC underlined that it would continue to exercise its sovereignty over the national territory and the air space, as established in the Political Constitution of Colombia.

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