Russian Fighter Jet Breached Swedish Airspace on Friday

  • Breach comes several days after a similar incident in Finland
  • Sweden sent fighter jets to force Russian aircraft to leave

A Sukhoi SU-24 fighter aircraft. 

Photographer: Lev Fedoseyev/TASS/Getty Images

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A Russian SU-24 fighter aircraft breached Swedish airspace just east of the island of Gotland on Friday afternoon, only days after a similar incident in Finland.

Sweden’s Air Force first verbally warned the plane, which didn’t deviate from its course, then sent two JAS-39 Gripen fighters to force it to leave, the Swedish Armed Forces said in a statement.