The border guard filed a report about a perilous incident involving the Turbolet L-410 to the SCAAI, the formation’s press service announced.
The next steps for crew involvement depend on verification and safety
The Border Guard emphasized that protecting its officers in the operational area designated by Romania is the top priority; any further participation of the Border Guard crew in the mission hinges on that safety guarantee.
The Border Guard stated on Monday via Twitter that the report had been submitted to the state air accident investigation commission.
Previously reported by PAP, a spokeswoman for the Border Guard, Lieutenant Anna Michalska, noted that a Russian fighter jet approached the Polish Border Guard aircraft taking part in the Frontex mission over the Black Sea on three separate occasions, performing aggressive and hazardous maneuvers. During the incident, the Polish crew briefly lost control of the aircraft and descended in altitude.
During the patrol flight of the Turbolet L-410 operated by the Polish Border Guard under a Frontex operation governed by Romania, a dangerous incident occurred within the Romanian designated operational area, according to the spokeswoman.
A twin-engine Russian SU-35 fighter entered the Romanian operational area without establishing radio contact and then carried out aggressive and dangerous maneuvers, making three approaches to the Polish aircraft without maintaining safe separation. The encounter caused significant turbulence in the Polish Border Guard plane, Michalska explained.
Excellent skills and strong command of Polish SG crews
She added that during the Russian fighter incident, the five-member crew of Polish Border Guard officers briefly lost control of the aircraft and descended. The Russian fighter also came very close to the SG aircraft’s nose, adjusting its flight path at a dangerous distance. According to the crew, the distance was about five meters. After the third approach, the Russian fighter moved away from the Polish aircraft, the SG spokeswoman said.
The crew, composed mainly of two pilots and three aviation systems operators, demonstrated outstanding skill and composure, enabling a safe landing, she noted.
She stressed that the Border Guard Turbolet L 410 crew consisted of two pilots and three aviation systems operators, all officers from the 1st Aviation Department of the Border Guard Aviation Office in Gdańsk.
The Border Guard Aviation Office officers have been taking part in the Frontex JO MMO Black Sea 2023 mission since April 19, 2023. This year marks the second operation in which Polish border guard officers participate, following an earlier mission in Italy at the start of the year.
Government spokesperson: A provocative action
During a Monday press conference, government spokesperson Piotr Müller was questioned about the incident. He said the event occurred in Romanian airspace and stemmed from actions within the EU Frontex mission, noting that the affected aircraft is civilian in status since it is unarmed and cannot pose a threat. He described the Russian fighter’s behavior as provocative and explained that standard procedures exist for reporting such incidents to allied nations.
He added that measures have already been taken, including actions toward the Russian Federation.
Russia does not respect international law
According to Müller, Russia conducts such actions with intent, and protests are necessary but will not alter Moscow’s stance in the region. He noted that NATO remains a defensive alliance and discussed ongoing conversations about countering such provocations as part of allied planning.
The spokesman stressed that Russia does not adhere to international law and may attempt to provoke emotional reactions from the North Atlantic Alliance to claim that it is the alliance that is aggressive. He pointed out that NATO is a defense pact by design.
Further context was provided by statements about strategic responses and alliance coordination aimed at maintaining regional stability in the face of provocative actions from Moscow. The discussion pointed to continued dialogue among allies and adherence to established procedures for reporting and responding to such incidents. This summary reflects coverage from Polish news outlets as attributed to the source noted in Polish media.
Source: wPolityce