Swedish fighter jets intercepted a Russian military aircraft after it briefly violated Sweden's airspace on Friday east of the Baltic island of Gotland, the Nordic country's armed forces said on Saturday.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom called the airspace violation "unacceptable" and said officials from the Russian Embassy in Stockholm would be summoned to his ministry over the incident.
"We are in close contact with allies and partners about the events in our immediate area," Billstrom told Reuters in emailed comments.
The Russian Embassy in Sweden did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sweden's armed forces said in a statement that Gripen jets were sent up to intercept the Russian plane, an SU-24, after it failed to respond to a radio warning by military air traffic controllers.
@ISIDEWITH2 tjedna2W
Is it ever justifiable for one country to violate another's airspace without permission, and under what circumstances?
@ISIDEWITH2 tjedna2W
How would you feel if a foreign military aircraft unexpectedly entered your country's airspace?
