The report notes that on Thursday, April 13, Russian airspace controls recorded an approaching target to the Russian border.
"In order to identify an aerial target and prevent violations of the Russian border, a fighter was lifted into the air", - the defense ministry said in a statement.
The Russian MiG-31 identified the Norwegian aircraft, after which the vessel of a foreign state turned around. Violations of the country's border by a foreign plane were not allowed. After the Norwegian patrol plane turned around, the Russian MiG-31 returned to its home airfield.
The Defense ministry added that the Russian plane lifted into the sky acted in accordance with international rules. He did not cross the air routes, and also did not allow the approach to the Norwegian plane at a dangerous distance.
The Norwegian Defense Ministry has not yet commented on the incident.
Recall that the day before, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet was lifted into the sky after a German patrol plane was spotted over the Baltic Sea. The vessel also did not violate the Russian border.